The Opticians Act' 1989 imposes an obligation on the General Optical Council to keep itself informed of the nature of the instruction given by any training institution to persons training as either dispensing opticians or optometrists and of the examinations on the results of which approved qualifications are granted.

The Council may approve any institution where the instruction given to persons training as optometrists or dispensing opticians appears to be such as to secure to the student adequate knowledge and skill for the practice of their profession.

Similarly, the Council may approve any qualification which appears to be granted to candidates who reach such a standard of proficiency at a qualifying examination as to secure to them adequate knowledge and skill for the practice of their profession.

Approximately every five years, or more frequently if considered necessary, the GOC visits optical training institutions and professional qualifying examinations. The team of GOC Visitors is selected from a formally appointed panel of 24 members comprising of:

• 6 dispensing opticians
• 6 optometrists
• 6 ophthalmologists
• 6 educators