You should find all the information you need in the answers to questions listed here.
If you have further queries please contact [email protected]
Any course organiser or provider that runs educational or scientific courses for the development of competent ophthalmologists, or those from eye care professionals, who can provide evidence of high-quality provision.
A course organiser must complete the Course Accreditation application form.
As part of the application, a course organiser must demonstrate that their course complies with College standards. Any additional information including previous participant evaluation should be submitted.
Each application will first be reviewed by the College staff team. If the course is deemed eligible, a panel visit will be arranged to review the course in delivery. The panel would usually consist of one consultant ophthalmologist and one staff member. A report of the visit will then be discussed at Training Committee, and if supported, the Course will be recommended for Accreditation.
The time frame for Course Accreditation would depend upon the date(s) of future sittings of the course, and the availability of the visiting quality assurance panel. It is therefore advised that an application should be submitted as far in advance of the next course sitting as possible.
Participant evaluations from at least the previous two course sittings should form part of the documentary submission for Course Accreditation. The evaluations should provide detailed information about how the course ran and confirm that it was received positively in delivery. The evaluation should also confirm that the course learning outcomes had been achieved.
Yes. As part of the Course Accreditation process, applying organisations must comply with the College’s monitoring requirements. Course participants will be required to complete an evaluation of their learning experience following attendance on the course. The course tutor and/or members of the course faculty will be required to provide a report to the Training Committee at the end of each year of the accreditation period.
The College retains the right to withdraw Course Accreditation where any of its standards are breached
Course Accreditation is usually awarded for three years subject to satisfactory annual monitoring and review. This can be further extended by mutual agreement.
The College charges an initial assessment fee (non-refundable) and a fee if the course is accredited. The applying organisation will also be required to cover the costs of the panel visit. There will be an update accreditation fee after three years (paid yearly or three yearly).
The initial assessment fee is payable upon submission of an application. Payment of any panel visitation fee will be required once the panel visit has been established. Payment of any accreditation fee will be required following confirmation that the course has received Course Accreditation.
Yes. The College does recognise eligible courses for the purposes of CPD for no additional charge. Each course will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis against the criteria and standards for accreditation of CPD activities. If the College deems a course not to be worthy of CPD points, the course organiser cannot advertise the course as bearing CPD points.
Accredited courses will be listed on the Accreditation section of the College website.
No. Course Accreditation will be in place from the sitting of the course following confirmation of Course Accreditation by the College. Course organisers are therefore advised to apply well in advance of the next sitting of their course.
No. Detailed feedback from at least the previous two sittings of the course, which demonstrates that the course has been received positively in delivery, must accompany any application.
If your course is longer than five days, or is a modular or distance-learning course, then please contact the team to discuss your course. Our email address is [email protected]
Each application will be looked at.
If you have any queries about any of the College’s Accreditation processes please contact [email protected]