Will Holmes MCOptom and Dr Joy Myint FCOptom

INTRODUCTION
Each year, hundreds of optometry students graduate and enter the workplace to complete their pre-registration year. Some optometrists will have direct experience of working with these trainees as primary, secondary or emergency supervisors in the College’s Scheme for Registration.

Many other optometrists, while not directly involved in pre-reg supervision, will work in practices alongside them. An understanding of the skills and competencies that all graduates must demonstrate in order to receive a degree in optometry will be helpful for those who interact with pre-reg students. For example, it will allow tasks to be delegated in appropriate ways, maintaining patient safety, as well as facilitating the setting of realistic learning objectives for trainees. The competencies required of UK optometry graduates entering pre-reg are set by the General Optical Council (GOC) and are called Stage 1 competencies (S1C).