The General Optical Council (Therapeutics and Contact Lens Specialties) Rules Order of Council 2008

Amendment to the General Optical Council (Continuing Education and Training) Rules 2005

3.—(1) The CET Rules shall be amended in accordance with this rule.

(2) In rule 2(1)(interpretation) omit “; and” at the end of the definition of “specialist CET point”; and after that definition insert—

““the 2007 to 2009 relevant period” means the period commencing on 1st January 2007 and ending on 31st December 2009;

“therapeutics specialty” means one of the specialties described in columns 2 and 3 of the entries at lines B, C and D of the Table in rule 10 of the General Optical Council (Registration) Rules 2005; and”.

(3) Rule 12 (requirement to obtain general CET points) shall be amended as follows—

(a) in paragraph (1) substitute “paragraph (3)” for “paragraphs (2) and (3)”;

(b) paragraph (2) is deleted; and

(c) in paragraph (3) “subsequent” is deleted.

(4) Rule 13 (requirement to obtain specialist CET points) shall be amended as follows—

(a) in paragraph (1)—

(i) insert “, other than a therapeutics specialty,” after “relating to a specialty”; and

(ii) substitute “paragraph (3)” for “paragraph (2) and (3)”;

(b) paragraph (2) is deleted;

(c) in paragraph (3), “subsequent” is deleted; and

(d) in paragraph (4), “(2) or” is deleted.

(5) A new rule 13A shall be inserted after rule 13—

“Requirement to obtain specialist CET points for therapeutics specialties

13A.— (1) A registrant, against whose name in an appropriate register one or more entries relating to a therapeutics specialty is made, shall obtain the number of specialist CET points determined under paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) In respect of the 2007 to 2009 relevant period, the required number of specialist CET points is the number equivalent to half of the number of whole months during the period for which he has any entry relating to a therapeutics specialty in the appropriate register—

(a) beginning with the date on which the first such entry was made or the date these rules come into force, whichever is the later; and

(b) ending on the 31st December 2009.

(3) In respect of each subsequent relevant period, the required number of specialist CET points is the number equivalent to half of the number of whole months during the relevant period for which the registrant has any entries relating to a therapeutics specialty in the appropriate register.

(4) If the required number of specialist CET points as determined under paragraph (2) or (3) would include any fraction of a whole number, the required number of specialist CET points shall be the nearest whole number below the number so determined.”.

(6) Rule 14 is deleted.

(7) In rule 15(1), add “13A,” after “13,”.

(8) In rule 26 (restoration of an entry relating to a specialty)—

(a) insert “Subject to paragraph (2A)” at the beginning of paragraph (2); and

(b) insert the following new paragraph after paragraph (2)—

“(2A) Where a person makes an application for restoration of an entry relating to more than one therapeutics specialty—

(a) paragraph (2) shall apply as if the application was for the restoration of just one therapeutics specialty; and

(b) for the purposes of subparagraph (b) of paragraph (2) the date of the first entry shall be the earliest date upon which an entry for a therapeutics specialty was made in the 12 month period preceding the month in which the application was received.”.