The General Optical Council (Continuing Education and Training Rules) Order of Council 2005

PART 4 CET POINTS

Requirement to obtain general CET points

12.—(1) A registrant shall obtain the number of general CET points determined under paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) In respect of the initial relevant period, the required number of general CET points is the number equivalent to—

(a) where the registrant’s name is in the register on 30th June 2005, two multiplied by the number of whole months in the initial relevant period during which he is registered; and

(b) where his name is entered in the register on or after 1st July 2005, the number of whole months in the initial relevant period during which he is registered.

(3) In respect of each subsequent relevant period, the required number of general CET points is the number equivalent to the number of whole months in the relevant period during which he is registered.

Requirement to obtain specialist CET points

13.—(1) A registrant against whose name in an appropriate register one or more entries relating to a specialty is made shall obtain in respect of each specialty the number of specialist CET points determined under paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) In respect of the initial relevant period, the required number of specialist CET points is the number equivalent to—

(a) where the entry relating to the specialty is in the register on 30th June 2005, the number of whole months in the initial relevant period during which he has the entry in the appropriate register; and

(b) where the entry is made on or after 1st July 2005, half the number of whole months during the initial relevant period during which he has the entry in the appropriate register.

(3) In respect of each subsequent relevant period, the required number of specialist CET points is the number equivalent to half the number of whole months during the relevant period for which he has the entry relating to the specialty in the appropriate register.

(4) For the purposes of this rule, no account may be taken of half numbers.

Voluntary CET points

14.  Where a registrant has undertaken one or more continuing education and training events in the period beginning on 1st January 2004 and ending on 30th June 2005, the registrar may, having taken into account the quantity and type of such events —

(a) for the purposes of the initial relevant period and compliance with rule 12(2)(a), treat the registrant as having obtained such number of general CET points as he may determine, up to a maximum of 24; and

(b) for the purposes of the initial relevant period and compliance with rule 13(2)(a), treat the registrant as having obtained such number of specialist CET points as he may determine, up to a maximum of 12.

Calculation of CET points

15.—(1) This rule applies to calculations made for the purposes of rule 12, 13, 23 or 24 in order to determine the total number of CET points obtained by a registrant in respect of the initial relevant period or any subsequent relevant period.

(2) No general CET points obtained by a registrant may be taken into account in calculating the number of the registrant’s specialist CET points.

(3) In the case of a registrant against whose name in a register an entry relating to a specialty is made—

(a) the specialist CET points he is required to obtain under rule 13 shall be additional to (and not in place of) the general CET points he is required to obtain under rule 12; and

(b) no specialist CET points he obtains may be taken into account in calculating the number of his general CET points.

(4) Paragraph (3) shall be subject to rule 16 in respect of the initial relevant period.

(5) No account may be taken of any CET points which a person obtains in the course of a relevant period in order to make up any shortfall of points in respect of the immediately preceding period.

Double-counting of certain specialist points for initial relevant period

16.—(1) In this Rule “relevant points” means any specialist CET points which a registrant—

(a) obtains in the initial relevant period; or

(b) is treated as having obtained for the purposes of that period under rule 14(b).

(2) Relevant points may be counted as both general CET points and specialist CET points (and accordingly one specialist CET point may be counted twice) but—

(a) the number of relevant points falling within paragraph (1)(a) shall not exceed four; and

(b) the number of relevant points falling within paragraph (1)(b) shall not exceed twelve.

Obtaining of CET points

17.  A registrant who has undertaken an approved event shall obtain the number and type of CET points specified under rule 10(1)(a) for the event.