Promoting Careers in Orthoptics2025-02-06T15:11:21+01:00

Promoting Careers in Orthoptics

Promoting the orthoptic career is vital for building a sustainable, skilled workforce capable of meeting the increasing demands for eye care services. Our goal is to enhance awareness and visibility of the profession, showcasing the diverse and rewarding opportunities available, and attracting talented individuals to Orthoptics.

We are actively promoting the orthoptic career through a variety of strategic campaigns and initiatives. We collaborate with educational institutions, healthcare providers, and key organisations to showcase the vital contributions orthoptists make to the healthcare system. Our outreach efforts include school and university visits, career fairs, and virtual events aimed at informing prospective students and career changers about the profession.

We provide resources to help those interested in pursuing a career in orthoptics, including guidance on educational pathways, professional development, and career progression. Through public resources, campaigns, and media outreach, we aim to raise awareness of core orthoptics, specialist career opportunities, and success stories, while facilitating awards to highlight the achievements of orthoptists and showcase the profession’s diversity. Additionally, we work to increase the visibility of orthoptics in underserved regions, ensuring the profession continues to grow and gain recognition with a raised profile for its vital role in eye care.

How do I become an Orthoptist?

More information about how to become an Orthoptist can be found on our prospective student pages.

How to Get Involved

There are a range of ways you can help promote careers in orthoptics and we’ve collected information and resources to support you below. Members can also find out about careers events near them by logging in at the bottom of the page.

If you have any questions or would like to get more involved in our promotional work, contact [email protected]

Become a BIOS Visibility Champion

We’re looking to create a network of enthusiastic orthoptists across the UK and Ireland, happy to attend careers events in their local areas and shout about what a great career it is. If you’re new to this, don’t worry, we can help out with tips and resources to get you started,

Sign Up here

Actively promoting orthoptics at these events, or by creating visibility content, is vital for inspiring future professionals and addressing workforce challenges. We encourage all departments to support involvement in this important work. Read our statement here

We already have a live map showing upcoming events, accessible below [login required]. Please do get in touch if you’re able to help out.

Upcoming Careers Events [login required]

The map below shows careers fairs that are welcoming ambassadors from the NHS. Click on the pins to find details of the event.

This is a great opportunity for local Orthoptists to promote their career!

If you’re available for any of these events and would like to get involved please email [email protected].

Are you a member of BIOS? If so log in to see member content. If you are not a member you can sign up here

Share your story

One of the best ways you can promote the profession is by sharing your story.

We’re always looking to hear from new graduates, orthoptists in education, research, specialist, advanced and extended roles, those returning to practice and career changers.

Submit a case study here, along with a photo.

If you’re currently studying orthoptics, you can submit a student case study here.

Careers Resources

We’ve put together these resources to help you if you are planning a careers event:

One of the best ways you can promote the profession is by sharing your story.

We’re always looking to hear from new graduates, orthoptists in education, research, specialist, advanced and extended roles, those returning to practice and career changers.

Submit a case study here

Case Studies

In our case studies, orthoptists talk about what attracted them to a career in orthoptics, as well as talking about what they do now, demonstrating the breadth of opportunities available as an orthoptist.

If you’re visiting a school or college, take along some of our leaflets and posters:

If you’re at a large event, you may wish to take some of our more general leaflets about what orthoptics is, available here.

A Day in the Life of an Orthoptist – Virtual Reality Video

The video was produced by Health Education England (HEE), as one of four videos aimed at promoting careers in the allied health professions (AHPs). Designed for use with VR headsets, the video allows you to look around the environment and watch short films embedded in it. highlighting the typical work done by an Orthoptist.

It can be used as a normal video for promotion but if you can get access to a VR headset, it makes a fantastic focus for careers events!

HEE e-LfH e-learning programme

Health Education England e-Learning for Healthcare (HEE e-LfH) has worked in partnership with BIOS and other professional bodies to develop three e-learning sessions to support AHPs undertaking voluntary outreach work with young people and career changers, in schools or other settings.

The sessions, which should be completed in numerical order, teach learners about the context for outreach work and its importance, developing content that is relevant to different audiences, and delivering compelling content that will help to inspire the next generation of AHPs.

Learning outcomes from the sessions may be submitted to the Health and Care Professions Council as part of a CPD audit.

For more information about the e-learning programme, including details on how to access, please visit the Promoting Careers in the Allied Health Professions programme page.

Work Placement Tutors

If you are currently a Lead Clinical Tutor or a member of staff arranging work shadowing placements, we have set up a discussion forum where you can gain support and share useful resources.

Join in the members’ area here.