Information and guidance for Assessors on the Scheme for Registration.
The Assessor affix
College Assessors play a key role in optometry education across the UK. They assess learner performance on the Scheme for Registration and Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP) programmes, ensuring learners have the opportunity to demonstrate that they meet GOC competencies or outcomes within required timeframes.
Recognition for a key professional role
Work-based assessment is integral to optometric education and the delivery of safe patient care.
The College is delighted to launch an assessor affix framework to recognise the expertise, commitment and professional judgement required in each of the three levels of role.
The affixes and requirements
The College seeks to recognise educational as well as clinical excellence and to continue to develop a sustainable and recognised assessor workforce.
College assessors will be able to apply to one of three affixes according to their level of experience from July 2026.
Assessor - OptA
The ‘OptA’ affix is open to any Assessor that has experience of the full cycle:
both Stage One and Stage Two of the Scheme for Registration AND/OR
all four CLiP visits
AND at least two positive formal observations
Typically, the above will take a minimum of two years of undertaking the assessor role.
Using the quality assurance observations that have been created in collaboration with your Senior Assessor, you will complete a reflective exercise on how your assessing practice has evolved through feedback, reflection and action planning.
During annual assessor training, you will facilitate two group-based exercises and respond with feedback and an action plan for the assessors in the group. You will produce a reflection written on the experience (1000 words maximum).
Contact your Senior Assessor and email education.admin@college-optometrists.org to express your interest in applying. You will be given guidance on starting the process.
Senior Assessor - OptSenA
The ‘OptSenA’ affix is open only to Senior Assessors that have been appointed to the role
This affix will be used to denote that the holder is leading others in undertaking assessment processes to defined standards and evaluating outcomes to propose and support enhancement activities.
The Senior Assessor will need to complete and write up an evaluative activity (1,250 words maximum) focusing on developing mechanisms to support others to undertake assessment effectively and consistently, to specified standards. This may be improving the delivery, structure or logistical processes for the Scheme for Registration or CLiP assessments, developing new assessment methods, or the development and performance enhancement of assessors in their respective regions. The piece should include consideration of data, development of one or more interventions, and reflection on their effectiveness.
Contact the Lead Assessor at lead.assessor@college-optometrists.org to express your interest in applying. You will be given guidance on starting the process.
Important note for all applicants
the affix can only be used whilst active as an assessor for The College of Optometrists and providing a minimum amount of activity – normally this would be defined as eight Stage One trainees and 15 Direct Observations and Overarching (Scheme) and/or 32 CLiP visits per year (eight assessments per visit type), as well as undertaking the Senior Assessor role.
College Assessors will be supported by their Senior Assessor and Lead Assessor team to develop their applications to meet the award criteria, which are mapped to national educational standards.
affixes can be used whilst the assessor is in service only, and assessors will be supported to develop towards the next tier of affix should they wish to, as they progress in their role.
if an assessor does not meet the criteria after obtaining the affix, they will have it rescinded.
an assessor can only hold one affix at any one time, and that the tiers in the affixes supersede each other.
Benefits of applying for the Assessor affix
The Assessor affix provides formal recognition of the expertise and contribution to a role that is central to the education of the next generation, patient safety and professional standards. It strengthens the professional profile of assessors, and demonstrates career development. At the same time, it helps sustain a skilled UK-wide assessor workforce, ensuring the profession can continue to train and assess optometrists effectively.
Key benefits:
formal recognition of educational and optometric expertise, contribution and professional judgement
enhanced professional profile, supporting career and portfolio development
acknowledgement of the assessor role in maintaining patient safety and standards
reward for continuing and deepening involvement in work-based assessment