**1. Introduction**

The Place Model was developed in order to conceptualize the various roles and career pathways in the teaching profession [1]. It can be used to demonstrate how the user can consider long-term professional career trajectories and to encourage the student-teacher to visualize their future personal and professional development. It classifies the place of teachers in respect of (place as) esteem and (place on a) learning journey.

In the present study, the Place Model has been applied to the Optometric profession. The five categories of the place model will be discussed in terms of Optometry and a survey of undergraduate Optometrists highlights the perception of the model amongs<sup>t</sup> pre-qualified professionals.
