Education
Professional Certificate in Low Vision
The College of Optometrists accredits NES Optometry as provider of Professional Certificate in Low Vision
NHS Education for Scotland Optometry (NES Optometry) is the first non-university provider to be accredited by The College of Optometrists to deliver the Professional Certificate in Low Vision.
The organisation was commissioned by Scottish Government to develop a training programme for registered optometrists and dispensing opticians delivering a national low vision service for Scotland (NLVSS).
Lizzy Ostler, Director of Education at The College of Optometrists, said: “I’m delighted to see NES achieve accreditation to offer a College Higher Qualification. This is a genuine marker of the quality of the provision on offer, as well as the student support and quality assurance arrangements. The course team should be congratulated on developing this to allow NES to become our first non-university provider.”
“The College’s Higher Qualifications enable optometrists to deliver enhanced community services and to develop professionally and progress in their careers. College-accredited courses are all designed to fit in with the lives of busy professionals and are proving popular as healthcare systems develop in response to changes invoked by the pandemic. This Professional Cert course offered by the NES will enhance Low Vision services across Scotland and give patients even better access to a wider range of eye healthcare closer to home.”
Programme Directors, Dr Kathy Morrison and Dr Lesley Rousselet, said: “The Scottish Government is keen to progress work around expanding and enhancing the roles and services provided by practitioners within primary eye care and understands that it is vital to support developments with good quality training and education. It commissioned NES to become a provider of the College’s Professional Certificate in Low Vision as part of its commitment to establishing a National Low Vision Service to enable more consistent service provision across Scotland. We are very proud to have gained College accreditation and are confident that optometrists and dispensing opticians will be excited by the opportunity to enhance their patient assessment and management skills in low vision.”
The qualification will be delivered through online skills demonstrations, lectures and quizzes, and practical assessment. In order to ensure accessibility for remote and rural areas of Scotland, NES Optometry will utilise its regional Teach and Treat centres for practical elements of the course. Details of when and how to apply will be published by NES Optometry in due course.
For more information about College accredited courses, visit the College website.
