The Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Amendment) Regulations 2023

Amendments to the Opticians Act 1989 U.K.

37.  In section 8 (qualifications for being registered)(1)—

(a) omit subsection (2C);

(b) after that subsection, insert—

“(2D) Subsections (2E) to (2H) apply instead of subsections (2) to (2B) in the case of a person whose qualification is a specified state qualification.

(2E) Subject to subsection (2F), a person is entitled to have the person’s name in the appropriate register if the person satisfies the Council that—

(a) the person holds a qualification as an optometrist or as a dispensing optician which is a specified state qualification;

(b) the person has had adequate practical experience in the work of an optometrist or dispensing optician; and

(c) the person is a fit person to practise as an optometrist or dispensing optician.

(2F) A person is not entitled to have the person’s name in the appropriate register by virtue of subsection (2E) if the Council determine that one or more of Conditions 1 to 3 are met in relation to the person’s specified state qualification, unless the person satisfies the Council that the person has met the requirement specified in relation to the person under section 8ZA.

(2G) For the purpose of this section and section 8ZA—

(a) Condition 1 is met where there exists a substantial difference between the knowledge and skill evidenced by a person’s specified state qualification and the knowledge and skill demonstrated by an approved UK qualification;

(b) Condition 2 is met where the professional activities to which an approved UK qualification relates include one or more professional activities that cover substantially different matters from those covered by the person’s specified state qualification;

(c) Condition 3 is met where requiring the person to take an aptitude test or complete an adaptation period would amount to requiring the person to acquire an approved UK qualification.

(2H) The Council may determine in relation to a person who holds a qualification as an optometrist or as a dispensing optician which is a specified state qualification that, before being entitled to have the person’s name in the appropriate register, the person must pass such test, approved in accordance with section 12(7)(c), as they consider appropriate.

(2I) Where the Council make a determination that a specified state professional must take a test approved in accordance with section 12(7)(c), the test must be proportionate to the language skills necessary to practise as an optometrist or a dispensing optician.”;

(c) at the end, insert—

“(11) In this section “approved UK qualification” means a qualification that is—

(a) approved under section 12(7)(b), and

(b) granted by an establishment in the United Kingdom that is approved under section 12(7)(a).”.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 3 para. 37 in force at 1.12.2023, see reg. 1

(1)

Relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2005/848 and 2019/593.