The General Optical Council (GOC) has this week issued an urgent reminder to full and business registrants to renew their registration for 2009-10 by 15 March 2009, or face a ??20 penalty.
The ??20 late application charge applies to registrants who return their retention form and ??219 fee after the 15 March, but before 31 March. Registrants who have not renewed their registration by 31 March will be removed from the GOC’s registers on 1 April. A list of removed registrants will be published on the Council’s website, and copies sent to primary care organisations.
GOC chief executive and registrar, Dian Taylor said: “There are now only four weeks to go until the retention deadline, so time is running out. If registrants do not get their applications in on time they will either have to pay a ??20 penalty, or at worst, be removed from the registers and face paying a ??289 restoration fee.”
Laura Hytti, GOC registration supervisor, added: “At this stage it’s vital that you complete your retention form correctly, to avoid unnecessary delays. Make sure you check that you have: provided full insurance details; ticked the declarations box; included your practice address and a daytime telephone contact number and email.”
To date, 10,386 retention applications – over 50 per cent – are outstanding. Any registrant who has not received their retention forms should contact the GOC registration team on 020 7580 3898 (option 1) to make sure their details are up to date. Alternatively, email gocoptical. Forms can also be downloaded from optical.
General Optical Council