Following an evaluation of the 2022-24 CPD cycle, the General Optical Council (GOC) has judged its updated scheme during this period as a success.
This conclusion was based on fewer registrants having failed to meet their requirements compared to the previous cycle, especially considering registrants needed to adapt to significant new requirements.
Updating members at its recent council meeting, the GOC noted that “the end of cycle processes went smoothly, and there were fewer disputes and exceptional circumstances applications when compared to the previous cycle”.
Council members stated that there should be a further push around self-directed CPD, introduced in 2022, which only accounted for four per cent of total CPD points logged.
It was also noted that some registrants joining the register at the end of the cycle were confused about their requirements, and that communications should be tailored to this group at the end of the current 2025-27 cycle.
The evaluation will be used by the GOC to inform future planning and reforms for the next 2028-30 CPD cycle.
ABDO director of professional development, Alex Webster, commented: “It is positive to see the move to the current CPD scheme format appears to have been beneficial for GOC registrants in terms of completion of CPD and reduced registration issues.
“We felt we had a similar experience at ABDO CPD – with fewer members raising concerns towards the end of the cycle, or finding themselves at risk of being removed from the register.
“We will continue to develop ways to support ABDO members to professionally develop and obtain CDP, including more support on undertaking and submitting self-directed learning.”
ABDO CPD will be providing a helpful article on self-directed CPD learning in the September issue of Dispensing Optics.