Journey

Open an optician's practice

Use registered professionals for sight tests, contact lens fitting and the sale of glasses, register your company with the General Optical Council if it uses a protected title, and contract with the NHS if you want to offer NHS sight tests.

Retail & Consumer Goods Starting Updated 1 November 2026

  1. Use registered professionals

    Sight tests, contact lens fitting and most sales of glasses are restricted to registered professionals.

  2. Register your business with the General Optical Council

    Needed if your company uses a protected title such as optician or optometrist in its name.

  3. Contract with the NHS for sight tests

    Needed if you want to offer NHS-funded sight tests.

  4. Put the employer duties in place

    Every practice that employs staff carries the duties every employer has.

    Your duties as an employer under health and safety law How to conduct a fire risk assessment Employers' liability insurance Prevent discrimination at work

  5. Check you have everything in place

    Go through what you need before you open, and again when you add services or practices.

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