Trainee Dispensing Opticians and Contact Lens Optician supervision guidance – temporary changes due to Covid-19

Press Release

For immediate release

Trainee Dispensing Opticians and Contact Lens Optician supervision guidance – temporary changes due to Covid-19

The Association of British Dispensing Opticians’ (ABDO) Exams and Registration department has been liaising with the General Optical Council on student supervision, due to the current situation with COVID – 19. The organisations have agreed temporary amendments to supervision arrangements.

The following measures have been agreed to assist students and supervisors regarding supervision due to extended periods of training and potential overlap with new trainees requiring supervision. The following is a temporary update to the supervisor/student ratios:

• For the period of September 2020 to July 2021 only, pre-approved supervisors may oversee the training of a maximum of 3 GOC- registered students.
• Supervisors will be required to notify the Examinations and Registration Department by email to ehastings@abdo.org.uk for the appropriate declaration.
• A pre-agreed extension will only be permitted where candidates were already registered to sit their assessments in April 2020 or Summer 2020
• One of the 3 supervised candidates must have completed 80% of their PQP and ready to sit their final assessments as soon as is safe to do so.
• If the final year candidate subsequently is unsuccessful in their assessments, the supervision extension will continue to the end of August 2021 to allow the full number of permitted re-sit attempts in that time.
• If the final year student qualifies earlier than August 2021, the usual supervision rules of a maximum of 2 GOC registered trainees will be re-instated.
• Supervisors must maintain the GOC supervision policy for all candidates that they have registered to supervise.

This applies only to final year students registered for the April 2020 or Summer 2020 ABDO assessments.

If you have any questions on the above points, please contact Mark Chandler, Head of Exams and Registration on 01227 732920 or at mchandler@abdo.org.uk

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. Media enquiries to Antonia Chitty achitty@abdo.org.uk
2. Hi res images are available
3. ABDO represents over 6000 qualified dispensing opticians in the United Kingdom. Registered office, 199, Gloucester Terrace, London W2 6LD.