The UK’s first postgraduate (PG Cert) course to enable dispensing opticians to specialise in contact lens fitting has been launched by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).
The Contact Lens Optician Postgraduate Certificate has been designed for dispensing opticians already registered with the General Optical Council (GOC) who have been qualified for a minimum of two years and are looking to expand their expertise.
This new blended learning course enables students to study whilst working. With the support of a GOC registered practice supervisor, students will engage in contact lens practice for at least one day a week.
The intensive one-year course will also involve residential periods at ARU’s Cambridge campus, providing grounding in clinical skills at ARU’s purpose-built teaching facilities.
The first cohort will see 16 students start this September. Course leader Dr Holly Price, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Vision and Hearing Sciences at ARU, said: “I am really excited to launch this course after a long period of development.
“Learning in the workplace is a key part of this course and the up-to-date course content, combined with innovative delivery and assessment methods, will ensure that dispensing opticians are prepared for working in contact lens practice.”
ARU has provisional approval from the GOC to run the first year of the course with a small group, as a pilot. Once fully approved by the GOC, all successful students will be registered with the GOC as a Contact Lens Optician. Applications are now being accepted through https://aru.ac.uk/study/part-time/contact-lens-optician