As part of the 2018 amendments to the General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) (Scotland) Regulations, there is a requirement for all optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners working under GOS in Scotland to undertake annual mandatory training.
The 2025 Mandatory Training e-learning resource ‘Population Health: Community Optometry making an impact in Scotland’ is now available for completion. This resource aims to raise awareness of the current challenges faced by Scotland's health and social care system, and the impact on population health. It will consider how we, as community eyecare practitioners, can use our position within the system to positively impact the health and wellbeing of the patients and communities we serve.
You can access the training here.
The completion deadline for the 2024 Mandatory Training module has now passed. You can still access the training here.
This document details frequently asked mandatory training questions and their answers:
2025 Mandatory Training FAQs
Reminder: Following a communication from the Scottish Government in PCA2019(O)03, practitioners no longer need to submit their mandatory annual training completion certificate to the NHS Board(s) with whom they are listed to provide GOS. Your completion will be updated in your Turas Learning History - which can be printed if required. You will receive a link to a feedback questionnaire within 10 working days of completing the module.
All past PCAs are available on the SHOW website.
With the remit of the optometric workforce expanding, education around consent and capacity is crucial. In 2019 NES Optometry released a survey exploring confidence and knowledge around consent and capacity within the optometric workforce in Scotland.
The results helped shape the content for the 2020 General Ophthalmic Services (Scotland) Mandatory Training module Introduction to Consent and Capacity in Optometric Practice in Scotland and will continue to influence further workstreams on this topic. You can access the publication using your Open Athens login credentials via: https://doi.org/10.1111/opo.12794
For queries about previous mandatory training, email us at optometry@nes.scot.nhs.uk