ECOO has today, 5 November 2024, published a position paper that considers the impact the new World Council of Optometry (WCO) Competency Framework for Optometry, launched in March 2024, will have on its own activities. In particular the ECOO Blue Book, and the European Diploma in Optometry (EDO).
ECOO recognises the importance of the WCO’s Competency Framework for Optometry and the value of moving to this format as it aligns with our vision for a common and robust European framework of education in optometry, levelling up the standard of education, strengthening the national capabilities to implement the global strategies for vision care, expanding the scope of practice, and facilitating the free circulation of citizens and professionals across Europe. In the coming months ECOO will therefore undertake a mapping of the EDO competency framework with the new WCO competency framework for optometry to determine what, if any adjustments are needed. The next iteration of the Blue Book will also be based on the new WCO competency framework, with work planned to begin in 2025.
You can read the full position paper here.
You can read an ECOO guest article by the WCO about the new competency framework here.
The Blue Book is a valuable repository of information comparing education levels and scope of practices in their member countries in Europe. The WCO four levels of optometry have been very useful in this to help countries align their scope of practice.
ECOO established the European Diploma in Optometry as a stimulus to the harmonisation of European optometric education and clinical practice. The European Diploma is set at the Bachelor level in European Higher Education and provides a qualification appropriate for Optometric practice at Category 3 of the WCO four levels model. The countries of ECOO have adopted the Diploma as the “Gold Standard” for European Optometry.