Editing Optometry (section)

===== Training =====
In the [[United Kingdom]], optometrists have to complete a 4-year undergraduate honours degree followed by a minimum of a one-year internship, "pre-registration period", during which they complete clinical practice under the supervision of a qualified and experienced practitioner. During this year the pre-registration candidate is given a number of quarterly assessments, often including temporary posting at a hospital, and on successfully passing all of these assessments, a final one-day set of examinations (details correct for candidates from 2006). Following successful completion of these assessments and having completed one year's supervised practice, the candidate is eligible to register as an optometrist with the [[General Optical Council]] (GOC) and, should they so wish, are entitled to membership of the [[College of Optometrists]]. Twelve universities offer Optometry in the UK: [[Anglia Ruskin University|Anglia Ruskin]], [[Aston University|Aston]], [[University of Bradford|Bradford]], [[Cardiff University|Cardiff]], [[City, University of London|City]], [[Glasgow Caledonian University|Glasgow Caledonian]], [[University of Hertfordshire|Hertfordshire]], [[University of Manchester|Manchester]], [[University of Plymouth|Plymouth]], [[University of Portsmouth|Portsmouth]], [[Ulster University at Coleraine|Ulster at Coleraine]] and [[University of the West of England|West of England]]. {{update | list of universities appears very inaccurate|date=April 2024}}

In 2008 the UK moved forward to offer the Doctor of Optometry postgraduate programme. This became available at the [[Institute of Optometry]] in London in partnership with [[London South Bank University]].<ref>Agarwal, R. (2008), Integrating theory with practice, Optician, Volume 236, number 6167, page 12.</ref><ref>Agarwal, R. (2014), Developing the doctorate, Optician, volume 247, number 6439, page 26.</ref>  The Doctor of Optometry postgraduate degree is also offered at one other UK institution: [[Aston University]].