At CPDpoints.com, we aim to keep eye care professionals informed about developments affecting continuing professional development, and encourage registrants to stay aware of changes that may shape future CPD requirements.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a familiar part of life for every eye care professional. Whether you are an optometrist, dispensing optician or another registered professional, CPD plays an important role in maintaining clinical knowledge, supporting patient care and helping professionals develop throughout their careers.

Now the General Optical Council (GOC) has launched a consultation that could influence how CPD works in the future.

The consultation invites feedback from registrants, employers, professional bodies and CPD providers on several potential reforms to the current CPD scheme. While no changes have been confirmed, the proposals raise important questions about how professional learning in optics may evolve in the years ahead.

For registrants, this is an opportunity not only to review the proposals but also to consider what these changes might mean in practice.

Why the GOC is reviewing the CPD framework

CPD is currently structured around a three-year cycle, during which registrants must complete a required number of CPD points across defined learning domains, including interactive learning activities.

According to the GOC, the consultation forms part of a wider review of whether the current framework continues to support meaningful professional development across the profession.

The aim at this stage is to gather feedback. Some proposals could potentially be introduced from the 2028-30 CPD cycle, although certain changes may require legislative amendments and could take longer to implement.

The consultation outlines several areas where the CPD framework may change in the future.

A shift away from a purely points based system

One of the key ideas being explored is whether CPD should rely less heavily on a points-based structure.

Instead of focusing primarily on accumulating points, the emphasis could move towards the relevance and outcomes of learning activities.

Under this approach, registrants may be expected to take a more active role in selecting learning that supports their scope of practice and professional development.

Recognising a wider range of learning activities

The consultation also asks whether a broader range of activities should count towards CPD requirements.

Eye care professionals work across a wide variety of settings and roles, from clinical practice to education, management and specialist services. The GOC is therefore seeking views on whether the CPD framework should better reflect the different ways professionals learn and develop throughout their careers.

Changes to CPD provider approval

Another proposal under consideration is the removal of the requirement for the GOC to approve CPD providers and activities.

Currently, CPD providers must receive approval from the regulator before their activities can contribute towards CPD requirements. This process provides a level of oversight of the education being delivered across the profession.

If provider approval were removed, registrants would take greater responsibility for deciding whether a learning activity is appropriate for their needs.

This could potentially create more flexibility and allow a wider range of learning opportunities. At the same time, it may also influence how CPD is delivered across the sector, as providers would no longer be working within a formal approval framework when designing learning activities.

This could potentially create more flexibility and allow a wider range of learning opportunities. At the same time, it may also influence how CPD is delivered across the sector, as providers would no longer be working within a formal approval framework when designing learning activities.

A subtle shift in responsibility

Taken together, several of the proposals suggest a gradual shift in where responsibility sits within the CPD system.

The GOC has stated that it does not intend to return to a model where CPD providers upload points on behalf of registrants. The current approach, where individuals record their own learning, is intended to support a culture where professionals take responsibility for their CPD.

At the same time, the consultation highlights that the current points-based model requires significant infrastructure to manage, including the bespoke MyCPD platform used to record and monitor CPD points, as well as the administrative processes involved at the end of each CPD cycle.

If the framework moves away from a strict points-based system in the future, the way CPD is recorded and monitored may also evolve.

Alongside this, the consultation places increased emphasis on personal development planning and reflective learning, areas where employers and workplaces often play an important supporting role.

For some registrants, structured support from employers may already form part of their professional development. For others, the level of guidance available may vary depending on their working environment.

What happens next

The consultation will remain open until 19 April 2026.

Once it closes, the GOC will review the responses received before deciding whether reforms to the CPD scheme should be taken forward.

Any confirmed changes would be introduced in future CPD cycles rather than immediately, giving the profession time to adapt.

Why it is worth engaging

Consultations like this help shape how professional regulation develops. The feedback received from registrants, employers and stakeholders plays an important role in determining how frameworks such as CPD evolve.

While the proposals are still under discussion, they touch on some important themes around how learning is recognised, how responsibility is shared across the profession and how professional development may be evidenced in the future.

For registrants, this may be a useful moment to reflect on how CPD fits within their own professional development and what support structures help make that learning meaningful.

Have your say

If you are a GOC registrant, you may wish to review the consultation documents and consider submitting your feedback before the deadline.

You can read the consultation and respond here.