Information for Education Providers

Approval and Quality Assurance (A&QA)

As part of our approval and quality assurance (A&QA) of education providers and qualifications, all providers are required to demonstrate how they satisfy our requirements, as listed in our Education handbooks.

We seek assurance from providers in a number of ways:

A&QA visits;
Notification of reportable events and changes to qualifications;
Conditions management; and
Annual monitoring.

Providers are also required to ensure that all students undertaking training, assessment or practical experience are registered with us for the duration of their training. We have produced guidance on student registration, which includes the key processes and timelines.

Visits

We periodically conduct quality assurance (QA) visits to approved providers to assess whether the standard of education and assessment offered gives sufficient assurance that students have achieved adequate skills and knowledge to practise safely. After each visit we produce a report of the findings that includes any recommendations for improvement.

View a list of approved providers and the latest visit reports.

Notification of reportable events and changes

To assist us in maintaining adequate oversight of approved qualifications, providers are required to notify us of any events and changes to their qualifications. Our guidance assists providers in identifying the events and changes that must be reported, and to explain the notifications process.

After reviewing the guidance, please complete the notification form if applicable and send it to education@optical.org:

Events and Changes Notification Form

Conditions management

Should a provider fail to demonstrate that it meets one or more of our requirements, we will identify the unmet requirement(s) and set a condition in relation to this. We will set a deadline for the provider to demonstrate that the requirement is met.

Conditions Management 2020.

Annual monitoring and reporting (AMR)

Annually, providers are required to send us a monitoring return to communicate and reflect on key changes, events and risks to their qualification(s), and to provide assurance of their continuing compliance with our requirements.

The sector report provides a high-level summary of the outcomes of recent AMR cycles.

Recognition of prior learning (RPL)

We recognise that many providers are part of institutions that already have well-tested and longstanding systems for the accreditation or recognition of prior learning (RPL) in other qualifications, which may be unregulated or regulated by other regulators.

For providers who have not yet adapted to the new Education and Training Requirements, our recognition of prior learning guidance sets out our expectations and requirements.

New education and training requirements (ETR)

After the completion of our Education Strategic Review (ESR), we have updated our education and training requirements for GOC-approved qualifications.

See our Education and training requirements page for more information about the new requirements.

Education handbooks

Our outgoing Education handbooks contain our requirements and core competencies relating to the A&QA of education and training qualifications for current GOC approved providers. There is an additional supervision policy which applies to all providers.

COVID-19 temporary documents

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on 7 August 2020 we approved temporary changes to the Optometry Handbook and the Supervision policy. The temporary changes have been extended until 01 September 2028.

If you are seeking approval for a new qualification, please see the Education and training requirements.