Certification and Registration
Certification and registration are two important terms you may hear after a sight loss diagnosis. This page explains what they mean, how the process works, and what support and benefits you might be entitled to.
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with sight loss, you may hear the terms certification and registration. They’re often mentioned together, but they mean different things and it’s natural to feel confused at first.
What is certification?
Certification is the process carried out by your ophthalmologist (eye specialist) if your sight loss meets certain criteria. They will assess two things:
- Visual acuity – how clearly you can see at a distance
- Field of vision – how much you can see around you when looking straight ahead
If your vision meets the thresholds, you may be given a Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI). This certifies that you have a sight impairment. You can be certified as either:
- Sight impaired (SI)
- Severely sight impaired (SSI)
What is registration?
Once your certificate has been issued, it will be sent to:
- You
- Your GP
- Your local social services team
Social services will then contact you to ask if you would like to be added to their register of visually impaired people. This is called registration.
You don’t have to register, but doing so can give you access to extra benefits, including:
- Reduced TV licence fees
- The Blue Badge parking scheme
- Travel concessions
- Access to local authority support or specialist services
For more detailed information, RNIB has a helpful guide:
Registering as Sight Impaired (RNIB)
Do I need to be registered to get support from you?
No – you can access our support at any time, whether or not you’ve been certified or registered. We’re here to help you understand your options and get the support that’s right for you.