Applying & Claiming: Key Points
This section outlines some of the key things you'll need to consider and information you'll be asked to provide in order to apply for and claim DOCET funds for a CET event. Please read this before you apply, and refer to the relevant Funding Guidelines for full details.
Course content and eligibility
Claim forms and proofs of expenditure
CET accreditation
Before you apply for DOCET funding, your course or event must first have been approved for CET by CETOptics. Applications for CET approval are made directly with CETOptics via their website www.cetoptics.com. DOCET is not responsible for this process.
When your course/event is approved for CET points by CETOptics, you will receive an automated email from them confirming the number of CET points accredited and your allocated course number. You will need to send us a copy of that email with your application for DOCET funding.
Course format and duration
The application form will ask you to provide details of the format of your course. Is it a one-off event, held on one day? Is it a conference or series of different meetings/workshops taking place over more than one day? In these instances, you will only need to submit one application form to cover the whole event. Does your event consist of a series of lectures or workshops repeated on different days? If so you will need to complete an application form for each date.
Course content and eligibility
DOCET asks you to provide details about the content of your course or event. This information is very important as it enables us to assess whether the course content meets DOCET's eligibility requirements. It also enables us to gather valuable information on the types of CET that are being made available locally to optometrists throughout the UK.
DOCET funds are only made available for CET that is related to the provision of primary eye care services and/or aligned with DOCET Priorities. The amount of funding provided may be reduced proportionally if there are elements of content that fall outside these parameters. Please remember that applications for events that do not relate to the provision of primary optometric healthcare services are not normally considered.
DOCET funds are only made available for CET for UK-registered optometrists - funding will be reduced proportionally for any delegates attending an event who are not optometrists (eg. pre-registration trainees, dispensing opticians etc).
Funding limits
DOCET is keen to support locally delivered CET so we will do our best to provide funding whenever we can. However funding is limited each year and there is no guarantee of financial support. To help ensure fair distribution of the limited funds available, the following caps are currently applied:
- Maximum DOCET funding for any one event is capped at £5000
- Maximum DOCET funding for any one organisation or provider in any one financial year (April-March) is capped at £6000
Please remember: there is no automatic guarantee of DOCET funding and amounts approved remain at the discretion of the DOCET Executive Committee.
Claim forms & proofs of expenditure
Once your application for DOCET funds has been approved and the course has taken place, you will need to submit a claim form. This asks you for more specific information about the event and the amounts of money being claimed. You will need to be able to provide copies of receipts or other proofs of expenditure against each of the items you are claiming for. See the relevant Funding Guidelines for full details of what is required.
Please note: if you are a local group using a third party/commercial CET provider to deliver your course, you should make them aware beforehand that you will need copies of their proofs of expenditure - a general invoice or breakdown from a third party provider without actual receipts or proofs of expenditure will not be sufficient and we will not be able to process your funding claim.
Timescales
- Application forms must be received by DOCET at least two weeks prior to an event taking place
- DOCET aims to process application forms and confirm provisional funding decisions within two weeks of receipt
- Claim forms, with all supporting documentation, must be submitted to DOCET within six weeks of an event taking place (Organisers should contact DOCET before the six week deadline expires if they have any problems submitting a claim on time)
If you have a query about any aspect of the DOCET funding application and claim process please contact us via enquiries@docet.info
