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 Do I have to log in to use the site?

If you wish to access the Live CPD courses or Peer discussion cases and Facilitator online training and support, you must be a fully-qualified GOC-registered optometrist practising in England, Wales or Northern Ireland  to log in. You don’t need to log in to access the Video or Audio libraries as these parts of the site are open to all users.

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 Why do I have to enrol on the Live CPD courses?

Enrolling on a course means you can track your progress and it will appear on your Dashboard, which you find on the My Courses tab and which will also display on the homepage when you are logged in. Enrolling means you will be able to complete the activities and gain CPD points.

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 How do I enrol on a course?

Log in, navigate to the course you want to take and you will be prompted to do Self enrolment, by clicking the Continue button at the bottom of your screen. This takes you to the course page where you can begin the course.

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 How do I see the content in each section of a course?

Click on any of the headings in the course e.g. Learning outcomes, Unit 1 etc. or click on the ‘Open all’ to open up all of the sections.

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 Why can’t I access the CPD exercise?

You need to complete the brief evaluation form before you can progress to the CPD exercise. This will only take a few minutes and gives us important feedback to keep improving our courses. Some courses might require you to complete some compulsory reading before you can access the evaluation form.

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 How do I search for a course?

There are a number of ways to find courses:

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 How do I watch videos?

Docet videos have a control  bar at the bottom of the video, like the one you see below.

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 How do I screencast or connect my phone to a larger screen?

To view and complete our online courses you may find it easier to view them on a screen which is larger than your phone.

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 Who do I contact if I need more help to use the site?

If your query concerns how to log in to the Docet site or if you require more information about CPD courses, contact us at Docet: enquiries@docet.info  +44 (0)20 7839 6000.

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Docet General FAQs

What is Docet?

The Directorate of Optometric Continuing Education and Training (Docet) is a special Committee that was set up by the Department of Health in 1989 to oversee the management of government funds set aside for the provision of optometric continuing education and training for all UK-registered optometrists. In June 2024, NHS Education Scotland (NES) withdrew the funding for Docet, and on 1 October 2024 all optometrists practising in Scotland have been suspended from accessing the Docet online resources.

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What does Docet offer?

We support your continuing professional development by providing:

• CPD materials - free, high quality, online training courses to keep your professional knowledge and skills up-to-date and help you to achieve the necessary interactive and non-interactive CPD points
• Monthly podcast Sound Optometry
• Three Webinars per year
• Free peer discussion materials - case studies, training materials, forms and templates to support peer discussions.

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How do I access Docet materials?

All of Docet's materials are available to fully-qualified GOC-registered optometrists practising in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Some Docet materials (without CPD points) may also be accessed by others, including optometry students, pre-registration optometrists and dispensing opticians.

If you are a fully qualified GOC registered optometrist with a '01-xxxxx' GOC number, and you practise in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, then you can access Docet materials by logging in on the site using your full GOC number (including the '01-' prefix) and your password. See How do I log in to the site?.

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Who do I contact if I have a query or feedback about Docet materials?

To contact the Docet team, you can:

• email us at enquiries@docet.info
• call us on 020 7839 6000 and ask to be put through to Docet
• write to us at Docet, 42 Craven Street, London, WC2N 5NG

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What is the CPD scheme?

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a statutory requirement for all fully-qualified optometrists. The rules and requirements of the mandatory CPD scheme are set and overseen by the General Optical Council (GOC). It is a points-based scheme running over a three-year cycle and the current CPD cycle runs from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024.   

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What are the new CPD rules?

From January 2022, all Continuing Education and Training (CET) activities will be rebranded to Continuing Professional Development (CPD activities). The GOC’s new CPD system aims to give you more control over your learning and development. You will have more opportunities to reflect on your practice, and tailor your learning to your own personal needs and requirements. The new system is set to be less prescriptive, and will support you to develop the skills you need throughout your career. 

An important change is that you must go to your MyGOC account to upload your evidence of completing a piece of CPD. We will no longer be uploading points for you. See also the GOC’s information.   

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What are the current GOC CPD cycle requirements?

Full details of the current GOC CPD cycle requirements can be found in the CPD section of the GOC website.

It is worth noting that:

• A total of 36 CPD points MUST be gained within the 3 year CPD cycle, with a minimum of 6 points in each calendar year of the cycle.
• A minimum of 50% of your three year target of 36 CPD points MUST be interactive.
• Each of the four core domains must be covered at least once within the 3 year CPD cycle.
  
• All optometrists MUST undertake at least one peer discussion or peer review activity within the three-year cycle.

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What is interactive CPD?

The GOC’s definition of ‘interactivity’ relates to the act of engaging and discussing with peers or other professionals as a way of learning and sharing good practice and avoiding professional isolation. The nature of interaction may vary, it can be face-to-face or electronic (GOC states meaningful engagement with a peer using electronic or verbal communication) with at least one other peer of relevant experience and training. For Docet interactive exercises this is a fully qualified, GOC registered, UK practising optometrist; in some instances a member of another professional group will also be acceptable and if this is the case, it will be specified in the interactive exercise instructions.

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Why do I have to do interactive CPD?

Interactive CPD was introduced as a requirement by the GOC in 2013. The aim is to prevent the risk of professional isolation, to avoid individuals developing poor practice habits and failing to keep up-to-date and develop their skills in an ever-changing profession.

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How do I gain CPD points through Docet?

Docet offers a range of distance learning training courses. Courses with CPD points available can be found in the 'Live CPD' category. There are courses with either interactive or non-interactive CPD points, covering a range of optometric domains and learning outcomes. CPD points are gained by successful completion of the CPD exercise set for each training course. Scroll down for further information on Docet's non-interactive and interactive exercises.

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Suspension of Scottish optometrists after withdrawal of Scottish funding

In June 2024, NHS Education Scotland (NES) withdrew the funding for Docet, and on 1 October 2024 all optometrists practising in Scotland have been suspended from accessing the Docet online resources. Please follow the link to a College web page with FAQs where you will find answers to any questions you might have. 

 If you have any queries, comments or concerns regarding the access to Docet CPD for Scottish optometrists, please complete the survey Docet CPD for Scottish Optometrists (jisc.ac.uk) to add your feedback to the evidence base the College is compiling on this issue. To get in touch directly with NES, please email Optometry@nes.scot.nhs.uk. The Docet team will not be able to address any queries on this topic. Thank you for your understanding.

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Docet Non-Interactive Exercise FAQs

What is a non-interactive exercise?

Docet training courses with non-interactive CPD points available have a non-interactive exercise as part of the course. These usually take the form of multiple choice questionnaires (MCQs). CPD points are only awarded following successful completion of the exercise.

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What do I need to do before starting a non-interactive exercise?

You need to watch / listen to all parts of the training course and read any supporting reference materials. You also need to complete the brief course evaluation form in order to access the non-interactive exercise.

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How do I submit my non-interactive exercise responses?

Use the online non-interactive exercise submission form, which you will find in the 'CPD quiz (non-interactive)' section at the bottom of the course page, when you are logged in on the website.

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How will my non-interactive exercise submission get marked?

Non-interactive exercises are marked automatically by the system. You will receive immediate notification if your attempt has passed or failed. You will then have the opportunity to re-attempt the non-interactive exercise (three attempts in total per non-interactive exercise).

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How many attempts do I have for a non-interactive exercise submission?

You have a maximum of three attempts at a non-interactive exercise. If you fail all three attempts, you will not receive CPD points for that exercise.

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What evidence will I get for doing an online course?

When you successfully complete one of our online courses you can download a certificate from the course page. Save this document and upload it to your MyGOC account to claim your CPD points.

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Docet Interactive Exercise FAQs

What is an interactive exercise?

Docet training courses with interactive CPD points available have an interactive exercise as a part of the course. In some instances, there may a set of MCQs to complete before you can gain access to the interactive exercise. The interactive exercise normally requires you to meet with an appropriate peer to discuss some specific questions or propositions and to then submit your own individual responses based on the outcomes of that discussion. CPD points are only awarded following successful completion of the exercise.

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What do I need to do before starting an interactive exercise?

You need to watch / listen to all parts of the training course and read any supporting reference materials. You also need to complete the brief course evaluation form in order to access the interactive exercise. Please read through the interactive exercise instructions carefully and make the necessary arrangements to meet and discuss the interactive exercise with an appropriate peer.
Please note that you must carry out your interactive exercise discussion within 30 days of having watched / listened to the training course.

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Who should I hold the interactive exercise discussion with?

The person you choose to hold the interactive exercise discussion with MUST meet the criteria specified in the interactive exercise instructions for the course.

• If a course specifies discussion with ‘an optometrist’ this must be a fully qualified, GOC registered, UK practising optometrist.
• For some courses, other types of professionals are also acceptable and these will be specified in the relevant interactive exercise instructions.
• You will need to submit some details for the person you discuss the exercise with (e.g. their full name and GOC or other professional registration number) in order for this to be verified.
• If you are a UK based optometrist completing the CPD exercise for yourself, you will need to hold your own discussion with another UK based practitioner.
• If you are a GOC registered optometrist practising overseas, you should make contact with a UK based practitioner with whom you can hold your interactive exercise discussion.

Docet cannot accept a submission if the person named in the discussion does not meet the criteria specified in the interactive exercise  instructions and/or is not currently practising in the UK.

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What if I don't know other optometrists that I can hold the interactive exercise discussion with?

Docet strongly recommends that all optometrists make efforts to establish links with other peers. It may seem difficult at first but it will be of immense personal and professional benefit in the long run. There are local optical committees, local practices, meetings and events, and many opportunities to meet with other professionals across the UK, not to mention online forums. More recently qualified optometrists may also have networks of people they qualified with.

Do remember that failure to establish links with other peers and inability to demonstrate that appropriate interactive training has taken place could result in optometrists being removed from the GOC register after the end of the three year CPD cycle, so it is well worth making the effort to develop links within the profession, even if you have not done so yet.

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What if I can't meet up with other optometrists in person? What if I am based overseas?

You can still gain interactive CPD points as long as you have meaningful engagement with a peer using electronic or verbal communication, either instantaneous such as in a chat room, video or phone call, or non-instantaneous such as a message board or email chain. However, this should still be with an appropriate peer as specified in the instructions for the interactive exercise. If you do use an alternative medium, you must state this in your interactive exercise response.

Some UK-registered optometrists living and/or practicing overseas may opt to maintain their GOC registration, especially if based overseas for an extended period but wishing to occasionally practice in the UK. A key principle behind the introduction of the GOC requirement to participate in interactive CPD is to ensure that all optometrists keep abreast of up-to-date practice in the UK and avoid professional isolation. For optometrists currently working overseas this is also important for whenever they wish to practice in the UK again.

Docet strongly advises optometrists in these circumstances to establish regular contact with other optometrist peers currently registered and practicing in the UK with whom they can carry out interactive discussions.

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Can I and the person I hold the discussion with submit the same responses to the interactive exercise?

Whilst it is absolutely fine for two or more optometrists to discuss the same Docet interactive exercise together, and to all submit responses for CPD points, it is a requirement that each person taking part MUST submit their own individual response to the exercise questions. The emphasis is on your personal reflections from the discussion that took place, including any possible influence on your own future practice and patient care, as each submission is taken as the individual registrants view after the interaction, in order to evidence the interactivity experience.

Docet cannot accept a submission that is the same, in whole or in part, as another person's submission for the same exercise.

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What should I include in my responses to the interactive exercise questions?

• You should ensure that you have answered ALL of the questions asked and addressed ALL of the points indicated in each question.
• You should summarise your discussions around each question and refer to the course content and supporting reference materials.
• Whilst your answers don’t need to be very extensive they do need to provide enough detail to clearly demonstrate that you have:
  • Properly considered the exercise
  • Discussed it with an appropriate peer
  • Recorded the key points from the discussion
  • Reflected on how your future practice might be influenced by what you have learned
• Extremely brief or one word responses may not be deemed sufficient for CPD purposes.
• To ensure your response can be effectively reviewed, please write clear answers using UK terminology.
• If the person you are discussing the exercise with expresses any views contrary to your own, you should include mention of this in your response, along with a brief explanation as to how your views differ.

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How do I submit my interactive exercise responses?

Use the online interactive exercise submission form, which you will find in the 'CPD exercise (interactive)' section at the bottom of the course page, when you are logged in on the website. It is recommended that you write or type out your responses separately first and then copy and paste your responses into the online form, in case you experience any connectivity issues whilst online.

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How will my interactive exercise submission get marked?

Interactive exercise submissions are all individually reviewed and marked by Docet's Training Advisers (who are experienced optometrists and training specialists). The Training Advisers assess each submission and may either approve the awarding of CPD points, or they may provide feedback to the individual requesting further detail on a particular aspect of the exercise or advising that one or more sections of the exercise need to be re-done in order to earn CPD points. In respect of whether CPD points may or may not be awarded and/or if further information is required for a submission to be deemed satisfactory, the decision of the Training Advisers is final in all cases.

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How many attempts do I have for an interactive exercise submission?

You have a maximum of two attempts per interactive exercise: one submission and one resubmission (if required in response to Training Adviser feedback). You should only make one submission initially and this will be reviewed and marked by Docet's Training Advisers. If your first submission does not pass, you will be notified and you will have the opportunity to make one resubmission to build on your previous responses. If your resubmission does not pass, you will not receive CPD points for that interactive exercise. The Training Adviser's assessment of any submission is final.

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What evidence will I get for doing an online course?

When you successfully complete one of our online courses you can download a certificate from the course page. Save this document and upload it to your MyGOC account to claim your CPD points..

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