We are the regulator for the optical professions in the UK

We protect the public by setting standards for education, training, performance and conduct amongst opticians in the UK

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You can use the opticians registers to search for an individual practitioner or a registered business.

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For optical professionals

Continuing Professional Development

It is essential that eye care practitioners keep their skills up to date and develop new ones in order to keep patients safe. Requiring registrants to complete CPD is one way we protect the public.

Standards and guidance

Our Standards define the standards of behaviour and performance we expect of all registered optometrists and dispensing opticians, optical students and optical businesses.

For optical students

A career in optics

An overview of the different careers available in optics, including post registration specialities that can be achieved with additional training.

Education and training requirements (from March 2021)

Information about the updated education and training requirements and application process/adaptation process for education providers.

For the public/patients

How to raise a concern about an optician

Guidance on raising a concern about an optical professional and the steps we take to investigate that concern.

Hearings

Find out how we run our fitness to practise hearings, guidance to understanding your role as a witness and read outcomes of our past hearings.

New GOC Standards launched

New Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians, Standards for Optical Students, and Standards for Optical Businesses came into effect from 1 January 2025.

Published at 12:00 on 02/01/2025

Latest updates

News and press releases

Optical regulator announces reappointment of Lisa Gerson and appointment of Ros Levenson and Poonam Sharma to its Council

Lisa Gerson has been reappointed as registrant member for a further four-year term, while Ros Levenson & Poonam Sharma have been appointed as new lay and registrant members respectively.

Published on 20/02/2025

News and press releases