Over 500 optometry students to start their CLiP placements in 2026

2026 marks a significant transition in optometric education with the continued roll-out of Clinical Learning in Practice or CLiP - a new model led by The College of Optometrists to provide student optometrists with the clinical experience they need to register with the GOC whilst completing their Master’s in Optometry. 

This year, around 500 students from seven more universities across the UK are set to begin their first Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP) placements. This follows 16 students from University of Lancashire who started their placements in August 2025. 

The CLiP programme provides a recruitment platform for students to apply for posts, 44 weeks of supervised patient-facing experience with approved College supervisors, regular assessments, and a range of support for professional development. They are immersed in clinical practice working closely with supervisors throughout. Students on CLiP benefit from a strong three-way support system facilitated by the College to ensure that University course teams, the employers, and the College collaborate effectively during the journey to registration.

In response to the GOC’s change in qualification requirements, the College has worked in collaboration with university and employer stakeholder groups and drawn on more than 20 years of experience delivering the Scheme for Registration to design a model for clinical learning that continues to prioritise patient safety, professional standards, and high-quality assessment. Consistency of experience, cost efficiencies delivered via economy of scale, and access to the College’s UK-wide assessor network, are also important factors for university and employer partners and students on the CLiP programme.