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The General Optical Council requires all practising optometrists and dispensing opticians to be registered, to meet its Standards of Practice, and to work within optical businesses that are themselves registered with the GOC — with records held to evidence ongoing compliance.

UK optometrists must create a written record of every sight test covering the patient's history, the examination findings, the prescription (where applicable), and any referral or management decision — and must retain those records for a minimum of ten years, or until the patient reaches the age of 25 if they are a child.

To receive payment for an NHS sight test or optical voucher, the optician must be on an NHS England GOS performers list, must complete the correct GOS form (GOS 1 for sight tests, GOS 3 for repairs or replacement, GOS 6 for domiciliary visits), and must hold supporting clinical records to substantiate every claim submitted.

An optical business registered with the GOC is required under the GOC Standards for Optical Businesses to have a clinical governance framework covering patient safety, significant event review, staff competence, complaints, and continuous improvement.

The GOC Standards of Practice set out the professional behaviour required of every registered optometrist and dispensing optician across seven domains — from putting patients at the centre of care and communicating effectively, to maintaining competence, maintaining records, and raising concerns — and are the basis on which the GOC assesses fitness to practise.

Setting up an opticians practice in the UK requires the principal practitioners to hold GOC registration, the business to register with the GOC as an optical business, the practice to enlist on the NHS GOS performers list if NHS services will be offered, and the premises and equipment to meet GOC and NHS contractor requirements before opening.