How to become a College Assessor

What does a College Assessor do?

College Assessors play a key role in optometry education across the UK. They assess learner performance on the Scheme for Registration (SfR) and Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP) programmes, ensuring learners have the right opportunities to meet GOC outcomes within expected timeframes. 

Assessments take place both remotely and face-to-face, using logbooks, evidence reviews, professional discussions, and observation of patient interactions. After each visit, Assessors submit an outcome report and constructive feedback. 

Assessors must always follow:

Why become a College Assessor?

  • assessing sits at the heart of the route to registration – you will be developed, recognised for your contribution, and paid for your time and expertise 
  • assessing gives you a new outlook on your professional and clinical skills 
  • it gives you insight into what good, and weak practice looks like, and how learners develop 
  • once established in role, you can gain a College affix recognising your educational skills, contribution and dedication to the profession  

What are Assessors responsible for?

  • carrying out visits at the agreed time and following College guidance 
  • using the College’s assessment framework to make fair, evidence-based decisions
  • reviewing learner evidence through the CLiP portal and practice records
  • submitting assessment results and feedback within one week of each visit
  • maintaining the integrity of assessments and verifying learner evidence when needed
  • discussing learner feedback about their placement experience and highlighting concerns to the College
  • joining required training and quality assurance activities
  • submitting fee claims within one month of each assessment
  • following instructions from the College

How many assessments do Assessors carry out?

Assessors are expected to complete 20 learner assessments in their first year, within designated assessment windows. These are split across: 

  • 10 remote visits
  • 10 face-to-face visits

What does conducting a visit involve?

  • Remote visits:
    • you will arrange a video call with the student or trainee that you are assessing, and you will work through the evidence that they have assembled to demonstrate their capabilities
    • you will question them on their understanding of the topics being assessed, including about how they would handle different kinds of patients or conditions, to determine whether they have met the expected standard
    • visits are structured according to the type of tasks included to help you make sure the experience and level meets College (and GOC) standards, and covers the right material
  • Face-to-face visits:
    • these are similar to remote visits, but take place in practice
    • they include some observation of clinical activities, as well as record review and discussion

How does the College support Assessors?

Assessors are supported by a Senior Assessor, the Lead Assessor, and the College team. We also have a great community of Assessors from a range of backgrounds who actively support each other.

Mandatory training includes: 

  • one in-person training day before starting
  • annual training updates
  • optional attendance at local peer meetings

Additional training may be required in exceptional cases. These expectations may be updated by the College with notice. 

To become a College Assessor, applicants must: 

  • apply through an open recruitment process. We open recruitment windows annually and advertise via our College recruitment page or optometry jobs board (filter by College vacancies)
  • be an experienced supervisor who has supported at least three preregistration learners, with one qualifying in the last three years, or provide evidence of comparable experience
  • show ongoing professional development
  • be a member of The College of Optometrists
  • provide their own transport (with reimbursement of reasonable costs)
  • supply their own IT and office equipment, including reliable broadband for remote assessments

If you feel that you do not meet the criteria just yet, or want a little more confidence about the role, an Assessment Skills session might help to give you a flavour of what assessing is like. This session runs approximately once per year, and attendees will cover some assessment scenarios to practice using their judgment. 

Other areas you might want to work on include: 

  • gaining experience of judging against a set standard, this can be in any area not just optometry
  • gaining experience of supervising or supporting pre-registration learners across a range of abilities
  • think about the skills you have gained as a supervisor and how they can be used in an assessor role
  • gaining experience of thinking on your feet in a high stakes context
  • think about how you would ensure equality and inclusion in an assessment environment
Upcoming events

Earn your Assessor affix

We will be launching a brand new Assessor affix in 2026! The affix is designed to highlight the important skills that Assessors provide and will be available in three tiers, so you can develop your skills further. 

More information will be available soon. Watch this space!