The General Optical Council (GOC) is the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. We currently register around 33,000 optometrists, dispensing opticians, student opticians and optical businesses. We are one of 23 organisations in the UK known as health and social care regulators. These organisations oversee the health and social care professions by regulating individual professionals. The GOC has four core functions: • setting standards for optical education and training, performance and conduct • approving qualifications leading to registration • maintaining a register of individuals who are qualified and fit to practise, train or carry on business as optometrists and dispensing opticians • investigating and acting where registrants’ fitness to practise, train or carry on business is impaired