CPD grant claim window to open in England next month

The window for practitioners to apply for their continuing professional development (CPD) allowance in England will open on 1 July. 

The annual grant, which can be claimed by optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners who perform general ophthalmic services (GOS), reimburses professionals for CPD they have undertaken. 

The claim window, which covers CPD education undertaken from , will remain open until 31 October. However, email communications from Primary Care Support England (PCSE) encourage performers to “start your claim at your earliest opportunity.”

The fee that can be claimed by performers for the 2023 education period is £596.

As well as performing primary ophthalmic services under a GOS contract, to be eligible, the performer must have been on the relevant ophthalmic list for at least six months, and have maintained General Optical Council (GOC) registration.

Performers should submit their claim through PCSE Online. They are required to log in to create and sign their claim, before a contractor signs and submits the claim on their behalf.

PCSE highlighted that locum optometrist performers are able to make CPD claims through any contractor they have previously worked for. However, they explained that the contractor will need to link the optometrist’s PCSE Online account to their practice before locums are able to create their claim.

In an email to performers ahead of the window opening, PCSE acknowledged that users “may still find references to CET in PCSE Online, the PCSE website and resources.”

It confirmed it would be “updating these from CET to CPD as soon as possible.”

The CPD grant was previously called a CET grant, reflecting the name of the GOC’s education requirements, which was revamped and renamed CPD on 1 January 2022.

The AOP has updated its frequently asked questions (FAQs) guidance supporting practitioners through the claims process. Read the AOP’s FAQ on its website.

PCSE asked performers who are having difficulties or have any questions about submitting their CPD claim to get in contact through its online Contact us form, selecting ‘CET grant claim query’ as the query type.