General Optical Council

All 28 members of Council meet three times a year, in March, June and November. Members attend a strategic seminar before each of the three meetings, to discuss key areas of our work.

Our members also sit on committees which carry out work delegated by Council. There are eight main committees:

• Audit 
• Companies 
• Education 
• Finance and procedure 
• Investigation 
• Registration 
• Remuneration
• Standards

Note: Council members do not sit on the Fitness to Practise and Registration Appeals Committee. These committees are made up of independent hearings panel members.

Council assign work relating to a specific area or project to a working group. There are currently ten working groups, in addition to the White Paper project board and work streams: 

• Bologna working group 
• CET scheme development group 
• Competencies working group 
• Contact lens working group 
• Delegation/ after care working group 
• Entry standards for dispensing opticians 
• Overseas qualification sub committee 
• Sale of optical appliances working group 
• Scheme for registration working group 
• Therapeutics working group