ABDO is calling for feedback from across the profession as it launches a review of the syllabus of its FBDO qualification, to ensure that student dispensing opticians are prepared for the roles of the future.
ABDO’s Level 6 diploma in ophthalmic dispensing enables students to register with the General Optical Council and practise using the protected title of ‘dispensing optician’. The syllabus sets out which areas students study, and the depth and breadth of what they study in each area.
In launching the review, ABDO highlighted the fact that dispensing opticians’ future roles were likely to be affected by a range of factors including:
As a result, the Association is working on the basis that a number of areas might need to be added to the FBDO syllabus – or to be covered in greater depth. Because there is a limit to how much material can be included in the syllabus, ABDO is also seeking views on what should be no longer covered, or covered in less detail.
ABDO president, Jo Holmes, commented: “ABDO is working on the syllabus review with the aim of giving our students an excellent baseline with our FBDO qualification. This qualification should continue to open up many opportunities for our students once they qualify that can then be built on, including in areas like paediatrics, myopia management, low vision and refraction.
“We are offering sectors of the profession, as well as patients and the public, the opportunity to comment on the syllabus review and what the priorities should be in their view for student dispensing opticians of the future. We want to ensure that the profession can evolve to meet future needs, and the syllabus is key to this. Please share your views.”
Read the consultation paper and respond here. The consultation closes on 12 July 2021.