Responsibility for overseeing the CPD scheme for optometrists and dispensing opticians in the Republic of Ireland recently passed from the Irish Associations of Optometrists and Irish Association of Dispensing Opticians to CORU. CORU is Ireland’s multi-profession health regulator and regulates physiotherapists, radiographers, social workers and other healthcare professions in addition to opticians. CORU requires that all optometrists and dispensing opticians registered in Ireland complete 30 CPD credits every 12 months to maintain their registration.

Self Certifying

All CET you complete at CETpoints.com counts as 'certified CPD' under the CORU CPD scheme and is worth one credit (one credit equates to roughly one hour). If you complete any of our 'interactive CET' you can claim an additional half credit for the time spent discussing the stimulus questions. Unlike previous CET schemes the CORU CPD scheme is self-certifying. That means that we (Eyecare) do not inform CORU when you complete CPD on our website. Instead, you simply keep a record of all CET you complete with us as part of a CPD portfolio. We will email you each time you successfully complete CPD on our website and you can review your CPD history and download certificates at any time from the 'my account' section of our website.

CPD Portfolio

Your CPD portfolio should contain evidence of every CPD activity you undertake. Attending courses and completing online learning is only one form of CPD allowed under the scheme. CORU's CPD Standards and Requirements for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians set out what activities can be classed as CPD. Maintaining your own CPD portfolio counts for up to 4 credits per year. Your portfolio should contain a plan of what you want to learn as well as reflections on what you learned from each CPD activity. You can find out more about what makes a good CPD portfolio on CORU's website.

CPD Audit

CORU advise that you should maintain a CPD portfolio from 31 March 2017 (the date the scheme came into being) or from the date you join the register, whichever is later. The regulations currently require that you must keep your portfolio in perpetuity. CORU will begin auditing a sample of portfolios in the near future and will give registrants at least 12 months notice before audits begin.

CORU and the GOC

The CORU CPD scheme applies only to optometrists and dispensing opticians registered in the Republic of Ireland. The General Optical Council registers optometrists and dispensing opticians in the UK and has a separate set of Principles and Requirements. Optometrists or dispensing opticians who are registered with both regulators must meet both sets of requirements.

Summary

CET you complete at CETpoints.com counts as one credit for the CORU CPD scheme (1.5 credits for interactive CET). You should keep your CET certificates as evidence of completion and add these to your CPD portfolio. You can access your certificates in your account on our website at any time. You must keep your CPD portfolio up to date at all times. CORU will notify you when they wish to audit your portfolio.