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Restore as a fully qualified individual
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Overview
If you have previously registered with us as a dispensing optician or optometrist, and for any reason have allowed your registration to lapse, or we have removed you from the register, you must restore to the register to continue to practise.
If you continue to practise as an optometrist or dispensing optician while unregistered, you are committing an offence and could be prosecuted.
Please remember unless you receive written notification from us that your restoration application has been granted, you are currently not registered, and cannot undertake any of the following restricted activities:
- The testing of sight
- The fitting of contact lenses
- The supply of optical appliances to customers who are registered blind or partially sighted
The supply of optical appliances to customers aged under 16 years - The supply of zero powered contact lenses
Once you have been restored you will be informed of your GOC number starting with a D- or 01-. As of 1 April 2021, we have introduced a lifetime number for new and restoring students, fully qualified registrants and optical businesses applying for registration on the GOC register.
Important Notice – Restoration during 2025/26 registration renewal
We are approaching the end of the current registration year which runs from 1 April – 31 March. Fully qualified registrants are now able to renew their registration for 2025/26.
If you want to apply to restore to the fully qualified register, you have two options:
Option 1: Restore now and then complete renewal (in total this will cost £596.25).
If you need to restore before 1 April, we will send you a PayPal invoice upon receipt of your application for:
- Quarter 4 2024-25 fee = £101.25
- Registration fee = £80
- Total = £181.25
Once restored you will need to login to MyGOC and complete annual renewal as a fully qualified registrant. You will need to pay the annual renewal fee:
- Annual renewal fee 2025/26 = £415
This must be completed by 31 March 2025 or you will be removed from the register.
Option 2: Restore after 1 April (in total this will cost £495).
This option is only applicable if you intend to start practice as an Optometrist or Dispensing Optician after 1 April.
Upon receipt of your application after 1 April, we will send you a PayPal invoice for:
- Quarter 1 2025-26 fee = £415
- Restoration fee = £80
- Total = £495
What action do I need to take?
If you need to proceed with Option 1, please click “Begin Application” once you have read through the rest of the guidance on this page and are ready to apply.
If you wish to proceed with Option 2, no action is required until 1 April. You will need to submit your application after this date.
How to apply
- Before you begin your application read the important information, provided below, in full. It will save you time and help you complete your application.
- Make sure you complete the required Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements. See below for further information.
- Complete the application form to restore to the register as a fully qualified individual, including correctly certified identification form. See our fully qualified identification form example for guidance.
- Pay the appropriate application fee.
Information you will need to complete your application to the fully qualified register
To complete this application form you will need:
- Contact information, including your home address and/or practice address(es)
- Details of the educational institute where you completed your qualifications and details of the qualifications you achieved
- Details of the required indemnity insurance
- Information about why you were removed from the register and details about any unregistered activities you may have completed during your period of non-registration
- Details of any declarations you may need to make about your fitness to practise. Find out more about when and how to make a declaration
- If you are applying for a low income fee - details of your gross annual personal income from all sources
- A completed identification form and correctly certified identification.
What are the CPD requirements?
To meet your CPD restoration requirements, you will first need to create a restoration account on MyCPD. Once it has been created, your MyCPD account will automatically calculate any previous CPD shortfall you may have, and your restoration requirements.
In order to restore your registration following removal, you will have to:
- Complete any shortfall you have in meeting your CPD requirements from a previous CPD cycle which can include some or all of; CPD points, domains, interactive points and peer reviews.
- Demonstrate that in the last 12 months you have completed:
-
- a minimum of 12 general CPD points from provider led CPD and achieved at least six of these points from interactive CPD;
- all of the general domains for their professional group; and
- ensure you have undertaken one peer review.
Please note: points completed as part of your restoration cannot be carried over and counted towards the current CPD cycle requirements.
What you get on successful application
- You will receive an email confirming your restoration including your new GOC number. You cannot keep or use any previous GOC number. If you were initially registered on or after 1 April 2021 and your restoration application is successful, you will keep your lifetime GOC number.
- You can access your MyGOC account. This area of the website will allow you to update your details, download a receipt, set up a direct debit and complete annual retention.
- The registration year runs from 1 April to 31 March. Your annual renewal fee will be due by 15 March each year.
