Getting started

The GOC CPD scheme awards its registrants CPD points for doing activities which improve their practice and develop their skills. The number of points awarded for an activity depends upon the nature, length and effort needed to complete the activity. 

  1. Register / open your MyCPD account so that you can record your points. The GOC monitor your continuing professional development (CPD) and retain your registration at the GOC.
  2. Write your professional development plan (PDP) and upload it to your MyCPD portal.
  3. Refer to GOC's CPD guide for registrants to help you understand the requirements of the CPD scheme.

Your CPD requirements

You will be expected to collect a number of points across the three year CPD cycle. These can be spread out or bunched together depending on how it fits with your work patterns and workload. However, you must complete activities which add up to at least six points in each year of the cycle. 

  • 36 CPD points across the three-year cycle
  • 18 of those points must be from interactive activities
  • You must gain at least 6 points in any given year
  • The points you get must be spread across all four domains
  • You must undertake at least one peer review event per cycle
  • You must undertake at least one peer-based reflective exercise per cycle
  • You must write a PDP at the start of the cycle.
  • an additional 18 points from the ‘specialty CPD (IP)’ domain
  • take part in one peer review event for specialty CPD (IP) per cycle.

Reflective learning practice

Reflective learning is a more formal way of recording what we have learnt in order to get insights about our practice and to make improvements.

Registering CPD activity with the GOC

All qualified optometrists must upload their CPD points and activities to their MyCPD account on the GOC’s website.

Types of CPD

We cover the many different ways you can gain your CPD in order to meet your requirements.

Your Personal Development Plan (PDP)

Fully qualified optometrists are required to complete and upload a Personal Development Plan (PDP) to the GOC.