Welcome to the GOC Consultation Hub

We are the regulator for the optical professions in the UK and we protect the public by setting standards for education, training, performance and conduct. 

We run consultations because it is important to us that the people who are involved with and affected by our work have a say in how we operate. 

Consultations are available in Welsh on request - please contact our communications team at communications@optical.org

For more information about us please visit our website

 

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Consultation on managing applications for GOC registration from optical professionals who have qualified outside the UK or Switzerland

Overview This consultation seeks your views on our proposed revised approach to managing applications for GOC registration from optical professionals who have qualified outside the UK or...

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Statement on verification of contact lens specifications and definition of aftercare

Section 27 of the Opticians Act 1989 (‘the Act’) sets out the requirements for the sale and supply of prescription contact lenses. In order to be supplied with prescription contact lenses, a person...

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Customer Feedback Survey

This survey has been created to help us improve the customer service we provide within our Regulatory Operations team.

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Closed consultations

  • Updating gender on register

    We are committed to supporting registrants who wish to update their gender on our register and ensuring compliance with the Gender Recognition Act 2004 (GRA) and the Equality Act 2010. We have drafted a policy setting out the process for applying to the GOC to...

    Closed 20 March 2023

  • Call for evidence on the Opticians Act and consultation on associated GOC policies

    Please refer to the document at the bottom of this page in the 'related' section for the full call for evidence and consultation document and questions. To respond to the survey, scroll down the page and click on 'online survey'. You do not have to answer all the questions. What we’re...

    Closed 18 July 2022

  • FtP Focus bulletin

    In December 2020, we introduced FtP FOCUS , a learning bulletin for registrants on the fitness to practise process. We published a total of five bulletins, the most recent in December 2021. You may have answered some questions about the bulletin in our 2021 registrant survey. We would like to ask...

    Closed 17 July 2022

  • Illegal practice strategy review

    We are consulting on a revised illegal practice protocol which is available in the ‘related’ section at the end of this page. The GOC’s overarching objective is the protection of the public. Although not a specific statutory duty, we may act on reports about alleged illegal optical...

    Closed 24 January 2022

  • Education and training requirements for entry to the GOC register as a contact lens optician

    This consultation seeks your views on our proposals to update our requirements for specialist entry to the GOC register as a contact lens optician. These proposals are available to download at the bottom of this page under the 'related' section. The consultation has now been extended and will close...

    Closed 3 January 2022

See all closed consultations