The General Optical Council (GOC) will launch a discussion paper in April on its approach to setting registrant fees – including lower fees for dispensing opticians.
The aim, said the regulator, was to “start a conversation with registrants about possible changes to how annual registration renewal fees are set”.
The paper will seek views on whether fees paid by different groups of registrants should vary depending on the costs of regulating them and other factors, and explore options to help registrants spread the cost of registration and improve transparency around fees.
Key areas being explored include: differential fees, such as lower fees for dispensing opticians, higher fees for registrants with specialist qualifications, lower fees for newly qualified registrants, lower fees for those on maternity or similar leave, a more generous low-income discount scheme, payment flexibility, including the option to pay fees by instalments, and modifying business registrant fees, including different fees depending on business size.
The paper will also seek to provide clarity for registrants including consulting on costed plans and fees and determining the fees for the next two years (or more) in advance.
The GOC emphasised that the paper would focus on the structure of fees rather than the overall level of the registration fee.
The paper focuses on the structure of fees rather than the overall level of the registration fee. It forms part of the GOC’s 2025-30 corporate strategy commitment to enhance fairness and deliver value for money in how registrant fees are set.
The discussion paper will go live on the GOC’s consultation hub to seek views from registrants for 12 weeks starting in April 2026.
The GOC also confirmed there would be no increase in registrant fees for 2026-27.