The General Optical Council (Registration Rules) Order of Council 2005

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

The Rules approved by this Order make provision for the procedures to be followed and decisions to be made in relation to persons seeking registration by the General Optical Council (“the GOC”) under the Opticians Act 1989 (“the Act”).

Part 1 provides for the coming into force of the Rules and sets out some definitions of terms used in the Rules.

Part 2 establishes the procedures for making applications to the registers. The Act provides for the Council to maintain five registers – a register of optometrists (section 7(a)), a register of dispensing opticians (section 7(b)), a register of persons undertaking training as optometrists (section 8(1)), a register of persons undertaking training as dispensing opticians (section 8(1)) and a register of bodies corporate carrying on business as an optometrist or a dispensing optician, or both (section 9(1)). Applications to obtain registration or to restore a person's name to a register following its removal by the registrar are dealt with under rule 3 of these Rules. Applications for the making of an entry relating to a specialty, or for restoration of such an entry following its removal by the registrar are covered by rule 4. Rules 5 to 9 specify the supporting information required from applicants. Part 2 does not apply to applications for restoration following a direction of the GOC's Fitness to Practice Committee (rules 3(2) and 4(2)).

Part 3 establishes the specialties particulars of which may be entered in a register against a registrant's name. Rule 10 specifies the work or activities which those registrants with a particular specialty in the register may perform. Rule 11 provides that, if a registrant performs such work or activities without an entry against his name, this to be treated as adversely affecting his fitness to practise.

Part 4 provides for the acceptance of applications made under Part 2, and the making of entries in a register, provided the registrar is satisfied as to the matters specified in rules 12 and 13. It also deals with notification of any refusal. If a person's name or entry relating to a specialty has previously been erased or removed on a direction by the Fitness to Practise Committee, the registrar may only restore it if directed to do so by the GOC's Registration Appeals Committee (rules 15 and 16).

Part 5 establishes the annual procedure for the retention of a name in the register. Most registrants are required to apply for retention by 15th March (for student registrants the date is 15th July). Rule 17 requires the registrar to send out the relevant application forms and rule 18 identifies the supporting information that must be provided. Where a person fails to apply, the registrar must send a warning notice under rule 19 and, in the circumstances set out in rule 20, he may remove a person's name from the register.

Part 6 deals with a number of matters relating to the contents of the register. Rule 21 describes the information to be entered in a register. Rules 22 to 24 set out the procedure for changes to the register which are made otherwise than in the course of procedures applying to an application for retention of registration. Rule 25 requires the registrar to remove an entry if directed to do by the Fitness to Practice Committee.

Part 7 revokes the General Optical Council (Registration and Enrolment) Rules 1976.