The General Optical Council (Continuing Education and Training) (Amendment No 2) Rules Order of Council 2006

Made30th October 2006

Laid before Parliament9th November 2006

Coming into force1st January 2007

At the Council Chambers, Whitehall the 30th day of October 2006

By the Lords of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council

The General Optical Council have made the General Optical Council (Continuing Education and Training) (Amendment No 2) Rules 2006 as set out in the Schedule to this Order.

In accordance with section 34(1) of the Opticians Act 19891 such Rules shall not come into force until approved by Order of the Privy Council.

Having considered the Rules, their Lordships approve them.

This Order may be cited as the General Optical Council (Continuing Education and Training)(Amendment No 2) Rules Order of Council 2006 and shall come into force on 1st January 2007.

A K Galloway

Clerk of the Privy Council

SCHEDULEThe General Optical Council (Continuing Education and Training)(Amendment No 2) Rules 2006

The General Optical Council make the following Rules in exercise of their powers under sections 11A, 11B and 31A of the Opticians Act 19892

Citation and commencement

1.

These Rules may be cited as the General Optical Council (Continuing Education and Training)(Amendment No 2) Rules 2006 and shall come into force on 1st January 2007.

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

2. (1)

The General Optical Council (Continuing Education and Training) Rules 20053 shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions of this rule.

(2)

In rule 2 (interpretation), for the definition of “relevant period” substitute—

““relevant period” means each period of three years, commencing with 1st January 2007”.

(3)

In rule 6 (fee payable for application to be a listed provider), for “£35”, substitute “£45”.

(4)

For rule 13(4) (requirement to obtain specialist CET points), substitute—

“(4)
If the required number of specialist CET points, as determined in accordance with 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”

(5)

For rule 25(2) (restoration and registration), substitute—

“(2)
In the case of an application to which paragraph (1) applies, an applicant must have obtained—
(a)
12 general CET points in the 12 months prior to the month in which the application is received; or
(b)
if the first entry of the applicant’s name in the register of optometrists or in the register of dispensing opticians was made in the 12 months preceding the month in which the application is received, a number of general CET points equivalent to the number of whole months between (and not including) the month in which that first entry was made and the month in which the application is received.”.

(6)

For rule 26(2), substitute—

“(2)
In the case of an application to which paragraph (1) applies, an applicant must have obtained—
(a)
6 specialist CET points in the 12 months prior to the month in which the application is received; or
(b)
if the first entry relating to the specialty against the applicant’s name in the register of optometrists or in the register of dispensing opticians was made in the 12 months preceding the month in which the application is received, a number of specialist CET points equivalent to half the number of whole months between (and not including) the month in which that first entry was made and the month in which the application is received.
(3)
If the number of specialist CET points which must have been obtained, as determined in accordance with paragraph (2), would include any fraction of a whole number, the number of specialist CET points which must have been obtained shall be the nearest whole number below the number so determined.”.

Revocation of the General Optical Council (Continuing Education and Training)(Amendment) Rules 2006.

3.

The General Optical Council (Continuing Education and Training) (Amendment) Rules 2006 are revoked 4.

Given under the official seal of the General Optical Council on the 22nd day of June 2006.

Attested by:

G Harris

Chairman of Registration Committee

D Pyle

Chairman of Education Committee

P.C. Coe

Registrar

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order approves Rules made by the General Optical Council, which amend those approved by the General Optical Council (Continuing Education and Training)(Amendment) Rules Order of Council 2005 (“the principal Rules”).

The amendments change the period of calculation for the required continuing education and training points from one year to three years, increase the fee to be paid by those persons wishing to provide continuing education and training courses to £45 from £35 and set out the requirements imposed upon an applicant for the restoration of his name to a register or for the restoration of an entry relating to a specialty. They also clarify rule 13 of the principal Rules.