As we bid farewell to 2024, let's reflect on the significant milestones and successes we have achieved together throughout the 2022-24 CPD cycle.

Transitioning from CET to CPD

The transition from the Enhanced CET (Continuing Education and Training) scheme to the General Optical Council’s (GOC) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme marked a pivotal change in how registered optometrists, dispensing opticians, and contact lens opticians approach professional growth. As the first three-year CPD cycle draws to a close, it is worth reflecting on the changes introduced and the impact they have had.

The new CPD scheme, which replaced the CET scheme at the end of 2021, began on 1st January 2022 and ran until 31st December 2024. It was designed to address criticisms of the CET framework, which many had found too restrictive and disconnected from the varied activities that contribute to professional development in everyday practice. The CPD scheme sought to provide registrants with greater flexibility, while still ensuring structured learning that maintained high professional standards.

This brought about several key changes:

- Registrants were required to obtain at least 50% of their CPD points from provider-led activities, ensuring a strong foundation of structured, high-quality learning, while still allowing the freedom to explore self-directed activities that reflected individual professional interests and goals.

- This shift placed the responsibility firmly on registrants to log their points themselves, a move that encouraged autonomy and personal accountability.

- The new scheme aligned CPD with four core domains - Professionalism, Communication, Clinical Practice, and Leadership and Accountability - ensuring a broad and holistic approach to development.

- Specialty domains for contact lens opticians and specialty optometrists further allowed registrants to tailor their learning to their individual needs.

- All registrants, including dispensing opticians, were required to complete at least one Peer Review during the CPD cycle. 

- By reflecting on their own professional needs, registrants were empowered to approach CPD strategically, identifying areas for growth and aligning their learning accordingly in their Personal Development Plan (PDP).

- The Reflective Exercise, centred on peer discussion, encourages professionals to evaluate their learning and practices, enhancing patient care and guiding future development through a review of their PDP and CPD activities at the end of the cycle.

As the first CPD cycle concludes, the overall sentiment appears to be one of success. While the new framework demanded adaptation and self-discipline, it also offered greater flexibility and recognition of the diverse ways professionals engage with their development. It encouraged registrants to think more broadly about their practice and fostered a culture of reflection and peer collaboration.

CPD activities at CPDpoints.com in the 2022-24 cycle

Let's take a look over our accomplishments at CPDpoints.com during the last cycle:

• 36,804 total points awarded
• 45 new CPD courses launched
• 49 successful CPD events delivered - including LOCs, webinars and peer reviews

Ready for the new cycle?

With the new CPD cycle ahead, it’s an opportunity to build on the progress made and continue embracing the benefits of reflective practice and structured professional development. CPDpoints.com offers the complete CPD solution, enabling registrants to track their learning, plan effectively, and easily meet all CPD requirements. If you haven’t already signed up, register now and enjoy your first CPD course free of charge. This cycle presents even greater opportunities for learning and growth - start strong by joining CPDpoints.com today.

How to get started

Step 1

Sign up for free. Click register in the top right-hand corner of the screen. We only need your name and email address.

Step 2

Search for CPD by keyword or domain. Your first CPD course is free. After this, you can purchase an annual subscription or pay as you go.

Step 3

You can easily see what content you've started or completed. You'll get a certificate as soon as you complete CPD. You'll need to download and upload this to MyGOC as evidence of completion when logging your points.