GOC approves recruitment for first dispensing optics apprenticeship

The General Optical Council (GOC) has approved recruitment for the first dispensing optics apprenticeship, to be delivered by the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO).

ABDO can now begin recruiting students to begin training under the apprenticeship from September 2024.

As an ‘awarding organisation’, ABDO will be responsible for the design and delivery of its Level 6 Dispensing Optician Apprenticeship through its centres, which includes ABDO College, Bradford College, and City and Islington College.

Once the first cohort of students reaches the final year of study, the GOC will make a final decision whether to approve the apprenticeship qualification based on evidence provided by ABDO that it meets the GOC education and training requirements.

Samara Morgan, GOC Head of Education and CPD Development, says: “I’d like to offer congratulations to ABDO for their work in reaching this point. An apprenticeship scheme will offer another pathway for potential dispensing opticians to earn their qualification, whilst still ensuring they are training through a qualification that has been approved and quality assured by us.

We look forward to continuing to work with ABDO to ensure the apprenticeship meets all of our requirements for full approval.”

ABDO Head of Professional Qualifications and Education Miranda Richardson FBDO says, “It is a great achievement to reach the point of enrolling apprentices on the Level 6 Dispensing Optician Apprenticeship. Building on the work of the employers’ Trailblazer Group which developed the Apprenticeship Standard, it has been a collective effort to deliver the first qualification for dispensing opticians that will benefit from government funding. ABDO has worked closely with ABDO College, Bradford College, City and Islington College, and the GOC, to ensure the high standards of the profession will be maintained through delivery of this exciting new apprenticeship.”

ABDO begin delivering its Level 6 Dispensing Optician Apprenticeship from September 2024. As the awarding organisation, ABDO will be working in partnership with three education centres, ABDO College, Bradford College, and City and Islington College, who are now able to enrol students on their apprenticeship programmes.

ABDO chief executive, Alistair Bridge, says, “This is fantastic news. The launch of the Level 6 Dispensing Optician Apprenticeship enables students and employers in England to access government funding to pay for their education and examinations. This will lead to enhanced recognition of the profession and the vital role that dispensing opticians play in providing excellent patient care.”

Kirsteen Newman, chair of the trailblazer group, and senior manager for dispensing and accredited training at Specsavers, says, “This is a landmark moment. It opens up dispensing optician careers to more people, helping meet the profession’s workforce challenge, and will benefit patients. It is a powerful example of what can be achieved for the continuing development of our profession when we come together as a sector, and I look forward to ongoing collaboration to drive the apprenticeship forward.”

The apprenticeship will follow the ABDO 2023 Level 6 ophthalmic dispensing syllabus, which is already delivered as a blended learning course and therefore is aligned well with the apprenticeship requirements.

There are a number of stages involved in gaining approval for the apprenticeship, and ABDO will continue to work closely with the GOC and the education institutes as it works towards the Level 6 Dispensing Optician Apprenticeship becoming an approved qualification, like ABDO’s existing Level 6 Diploma in Ophthalmic Dispensing.