CLiP is changing how optometrists qualify – here's what it means for you.

You've probably heard about Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP) – the new placement model changing how optometrists train and qualify in the UK.

Whether you're a student, an optometrist, a supervisor, an employer, or someone thinking about their next step, CLiP could soon play a role in your everyday working life.

So, what exactly is it? Why is it happening now? And what could it mean for your future in optics?

Let's get into it...

1. what is CLiP?

2. what makes it different?

3. how will assessments work?

4. what does this mean for current optical professionals?

5. why this change? why now?

6. next steps?

first things first - what is CLiP?

CLiP (Clinical Learning in Practice) is the College of Optometrists' new work-based placement programme, and it's part of a wider shift in how optometrists are trained and qualified in the UK.

With the traditional Scheme for Registration, students completed a 3-year BSc followed by a separate pre-reg year. But now with CLiP, students will complete a 4-year integrated master's, with their placement built into their final year.

That means they're fully-qualified optometrists as soon as they graduate – and are already embedded in clinical practice.

Here's how it's rolling out:

• SEP 2023: First CLiP master's students begin their training

• SEP 2024: Practices can register as CLiP employers

• FEB 2025: Students apply for their placements

• JAN/JUL 2026: The first CLiP placements officially begin

what's different about the CLiP route?

CLiP doesn't tweak the current system – it's designed to be more supportive and collaborative. Here's how it compares to the traditional route to becoming an optometrist:

Scheme for Registration route	CLiP route
3-year BSc + 1-year pre-reg	4-year integrated master's degree
Pre-reg year only after graduation	Work-based placement starts during final year
Sourced and managed by student and employer	Organised by university + College of Optometrists via CLiP Portal
One main supervisor	Shared, team-based supervision
One-off supervisor training	Ongoing training, CPD points, support via CLiP Portal
Paper logbooks	Digital logbooks with real-time dashboards
Final OSCE assessment	Continuous in-practice assessment

how does assessment work now?

Instead of a single high-stakes exam like the OSCE, students are now assessed continuously throughout their placement year. That includes:

• In-person and remote reviews by College assessors

  
  

• Real-time progress tracking through the CLiP Portal

  
  

• A written service evaluation project

This approach aims to give a more accurate, well-rounded picture of each student's clinical skills – and ease the pressure that can come with one-off assessments.

what does this mean for people already working in optics?

CLiP doesn't just affect students – it also changes how supervision and support work in practice. Here's what to expect:

• Supervision becomes more collaborative

  CLiP moves away from a single named supervisor model. Instead the responsibility for supervision can be shared across a team – including newly-qualified optometrists. There still needs to be a qualified GOC-registered professional on-site for safety, but the load is spread more equally.

  
  

• More structured, supported learning

  With scheduled assessments, access to student dashboards, and training via the CLiP Portal, supervisors are no longer navigating blind. You can see how a student is progressing in real time – so it's easier to tailor support and spot any concerns early.

  
  

• Fewer headaches around pre-reg recruitment

  Instead of practices finding, interviewing, and managing pre-reg students themselves, CLiP placements are coordinated through the university and College. This makes the process more structured – and ideally, a better fit for both student and employer.

  
  

• Ongoing support and CPD for supervisors

  Unlike the one-off training of the current scheme, CLiP includes continuous training and development for supervisors, complete with CPD points – helping raise the bar for everyone involved.

why this change – and why now?

CLiP is part of a wider move to modernise optometry education across the UK. The way optometry is delivered is evolving – and student training needs to evolve with it.

By bringing real-world clinical learning into the degree itself, students can build their confidence and develop their clinical decision-making skills sooner. And with better structure and oversight, it supports safer, more consistent standards of care – which benefits practices and patients alike.

For employers and supervisors, it also means:

• More visibility of student progress (thanks to the CLiP Portal)

  
  

• More structured support, with training and CPD available throughout the placement period

  
  

• A stronger pipeline of graduate optometrists, better prepared for the realities of practice

And while the placement process is now coordinated through the university and College, students still have input – from choosing the kind of practice they’d like to work in, to shaping their goals and learning during placement.

It’s a shift that reflects where the profession is headed: more collaborative, more clinically focused, and better equipped for the demands of modern eye care.

looking ahead...

CLiP is more than a change in training – it’s a shift in how the whole profession prepares for the future. Whether you’re mentoring a student, managing placements, or planning your next step, it’s worth understanding how this new model works.

At talentshed, we work with people across the profession – from the newly-qualified taking their first steps to experienced optometrists looking for their next chapter. And we’ll be keeping a close eye on how CLiP shapes the future of training and employment in optics.

If you’ve got questions about how CLiP might affect your career or want to be part of supporting future optoms, we're always here to chat.