When established in 2010, the Education Committee’s role was to advise the Academy’s Board on all aspects of optical and optometric education and training throughout Europe.
Since 2016, the Board of Trustees has given the Education Committee a greater responsibility for promoting and supporting activities which enable practitioners throughout Europe to achieve high standards of professional competence.

The Committee is responsible for:

• the Fellowship programme
• the scientific and educational programme at the annual conference
• Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

• compliance with any relevant regulatory or legal requirements in Europe
• the areas of work about which the Academy should engage with education and training bodies within Europe and internationally
• the educational priorities for the Academy

Based on the professional code of conduct developed by the European Council of Optometry and Optics (ECOO), the Code offers guidance for members of the Academy and is focused on four key principles: prioritising patient care; being honest and trustworthy at all times; behaving in a professional manner and maintaining registration with the competent authority in your country

This code is in line with the Academy’s Objects and it is expected that all Academy members will subscribe to it.

This Professional Code of Conduct was developed by the European Council of Optometry and Optics over a period of several years, with a focus on determining broad principles which can be applied to any country.

The Code lays down ethical principles relating to the conduct of professionals in the profession of optometry and optics, and sets out obligations and behavioural duties for those professionals.

The Code does not assume that optometry and optics are regulated but requires that in countries where the optical profession is regulated, professionals will comply with the requirements of the regulatory body.

The Code complies with Community law and in particular internal market and competition law. It also complies with basic freedoms to establish and provide services as guaranteed by Articles 43 and 49 of the EC Treaty and by the related statutory instruments.

Download the Professional Code of Conduct