How many CET points do I need under the new CET scheme?

The new CET scheme started on January 1 2007 and runs until December 31 2009. All Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians who are registered with the GOC are required to earn 36 points in this period. Those optometrists or dispensing opticians on a specialist list need an additional 18 points in their specialist area by the end of December 2009. You will not be able to re-register with the GOC in 2009 if you do not have the required number of points. Currently, the only specialist list is for dispensing opticians who fit contact lenses. Optometrists who fit contact lenses are not on a specialist list.

How can I keep track of how many points I have in total?

You can view a list of your CET points from all providers at the GOC CET website (www.cetoptics.com). Providers have 10 working days to add points to your account following a conference or 10 working days from the deadline of a distance learning deadline. At Replay Learning we will always add your points within 10 days of CET completion. If you have not already registered with www.cetoptics.com you should do so now. You can also view the number of points collected through Replay Learning in the “your details” section of our website.

How many CL points do I need?

If you're a Dipsensing Optician who fits contact lenses then, in addition to the 36 general points you need to stay on the register of Dispensing Opticians, you need 18 contact lens points to stay on the contact lens specialist register.

Optometrists do not need to collect additional contact lens points but anyone completing at least 6 CL points per year will have an annotation as a CL practitioner in the GOC register from 2007.

How do I tell the GOC when I reach my points total?

Once you have confirmed your points on www.cetoptics.com, you don't need to do anything else. CEToptics will automatically notify the GOC of everyone who has met the minimum points requirement by 31 December 2009. If you don't have enough points, the GOC will write to you in January 2010.

How do I register on CEToptics.com?

• Log on to the website www.cetoptics.com and click on ‘For CET Users'
• Click on the word ‘register'
• Type in your GOC registration number (including the hyphen) and date of birth
• Type in your contact details including email address

You will automatically be sent an email with your username and password. If you do not receive a message, email admin@cetoptics.com with your full name and GOC number.

If you do not have a computer or are not comfortable using a computer Replay Learning can manage your account on you behalf. Just call us on 01848 332020 if you want to register for this free service.

What if I'm applying to restore to the register?

Anyone applying to the GOC to be restored to the register will need to show evidence of recent CET worth 10 CET points. This is usually 10 points gained since being removed from the register.

Do I have to be registered with the GOC to gain points

No, anyone can register with CET optics to collect CET points. Even if they have no GOC number. To collect CET points you have to quote your extended username which you will find on the CET Optics website after you have registered.

What if I'm joining the register for the first time

You need 1 general CET point for each whole month you are on the GOC register during the relevant CET period. For example Someone joining the register on 12 September 2007 would need 27 points by the end of 2009. If you join a specialist register, you need an additional 0.5 specialist points (rounded down) for every whole month you are on the register.

What are specialist points?

All optometrists and dispensing opticians need to get 36 CET points in each relevant  3 year period to remain on the GOC register. The next relevant period is January 2007 to December 2009. Anyone on a specialist list is required to get an additional 18 CET points in their speciality area. There are currently 3 specialist lists. One for dispensing opticians who fit contact lenses and two for optometrists who have further qualifications in therapeutics.

Do optometrists need specialist contact lens points?

No but any optometrist who collects at least 6 CL CET points in a year will have their entry annotated in the GOC register to say they have undertaken recent training on CL practice.

Can dispensing opticians do CET aimed at optometrists?

From January 1 2007 all CET will be valid for the Target Audience only. This means that you can only collect points for CET which is specific to your target group. CET may be approved for a single target group (eg Optometrists) but where competencies overlap CET will be approved for more than one target group (eg Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians).  Providers should specify the Target Audience for any CET they organise. If it is not specified, check that CET has been approved for your group before attending.