Registration and Licensing
Prescribed registers
3 In addition to the register, the following registers are prescribed to be maintained by the Registrar as required by subsection 8(2) of the Act:
(a) specialty register
(b) student register;
(c) specialty student optician register.
Entries on register
4 (1) An applicant for registration who has never been registered as a dispensing optician in any jurisdiction must submit all of the following to the Registrar:
(a) proof satisfactory to the Registrar that the applicant is a graduate of a dispensing optician education program approved by the Board, or has passed an accreditation exam approved by the Board;
(b) proof satisfactory to the Registrar that the applicant has passed any registration examinations as may be approved by the Board;
(c) a completed application on the application form approved by the Board;
(d) the registration fee established under the by-laws;
(e) any information the Registrar requires to establish that the applicant is competent and capable and of such character to safely and ethically practise optical dispensing.
(2) An applicant for registration who has been previously registered as a dispensing optician either in the Province or in another jurisdiction must submit all of the following to the Registrar:
(a) a completed application on the application form approved by the Board, including a statement verifying that the applicant is not currently subject to any disciplinary finding that would prohibit the applicant from practising optical dispensing;
(b) the registration fee established under the by-laws;
(c) proof satisfactory to the Registrar that the applicant
(i) holds a current licence to practice in another jurisdiction, or has passed any applicable examination approved by resolution of the Board,
(ii) is a graduate of a dispensing optician education program approved by the Board, or has passed an accreditation exam approved by the Board,
(iii) has passed any registration examinations approved by the Board;
(d) any information the Registrar requires to establish that the applicant is competent and capable and of such character to safely and ethically practise optical dispensing.
Specialty register
5 (1) The Registrar must enter the name of any member who meets all of the following criteria on the specialty register:
(a) they have successfully completed a contact lens program;
(b)they have passed the contact lens examination;
(c) they are certified by the Board as qualified to fit contact lenses.
(2) A person whose name is entered on the special register under the former Act as qualified to measure, fit, or adjust contact lenses must be entered in the specialty register, but must continue under any conditions or limitations attached to the person’s previous registration.
Student register
6 (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Registrar must enter all of the following for each entrant on the student register:
(a) the name of the student optician;
(b)the student optician’s address;
(c)the name of the student optician’s sponsor;
(d) the name of the dispensing optician education program that the student optician is enrolled in or has completed.
(2) Before a student optician’s information is entered on the student register, the student optician must obtain a sponsor.
Specialty student optician register
7 (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Registrar must enter all of the following for each entrant on the specialty student optician register:
(a) the specialty student optician’s name;
(b)the specialty student optician’s address;
(c)the name of the specialty student optician’s sponsor;
(d) the name of the contact lens program that the student is enrolled in or has completed.
(2) Before a specialty student optician’s information is entered on the specialty student optician register, the specialty student optician must obtain a sponsor.
Categories of membership
8 The 2 categories of membership and corresponding licences are as follows:
(a)practising;
(b)non-practising.
Non-practising licences
9 (1) To apply for a non-practising licence, a member must submit all of the following to the Registrar:
(a) a completed application on the application form approved by the Board, including a statement verifying that the applicant is not currently subject to any disciplinary finding that would prohibit the applicant from practising optical dispensing;
(b)the applicable licence fee established under the by-laws;
(c) a statement verifying that the applicant will not be practising optical dispensing in the Province during the registration year applied for.
(2) A member who holds a non-practising licence is entitled to do all of the following:
(a) attend and participate in, but not vote at, meetings of the College;
(b) serve as a member of any committee of the College.
Renewing non-practising licences
10 To renew a non-practising licence, a member must submit all of the following to the Registrar:
(a) a completed application on the application form approved by the Board, including a statement verifying that the applicant is not currently subject to any disciplinary finding that would prohibit the applicant from practising optical dispensing;
(b) the applicable licence renewal fee established under the by-laws;
(c) a statement verifying that the applicant will not be practising optical dispensing in the Province during the registration year applied for.
Practising licences
11 (1) To apply for a practising licence, a member must submit all of the following to the Registrar:
(a) a completed application on the application form approved by the Board, including a statement verifying that the applicant is not currently subject to any disciplinary finding that would prohibit the applicant from practising optical dispensing;
(b)the applicable licence fee established under the by-laws;
(c) proof satisfactory to the Registrar that the applicant
(i) has liability insurance coverage in the amount set by resolution of the Board,
(ii) has passed any applicable examinations approved by the Board, if they have not held a practising licence in the 2 years immediately before applying for a practising licence,
(iii) has completed any professional development requirements approved by the Board;
(d) any information the Registrar requires to establish that the applicant is competent and capable and of such character to safely and ethically practise optical dispensing.
(2) A member who holds a practising licence is entitled to all of the following:
(a)use the title “dispensing optician”;
(b)if elected, hold office on the Board;
(c) serve as an appointed member on any committee of the College;
(d)attend, participate in and vote at meetings of the College.
Practising licences endorsed with contact lens certification
12 (1) A member whose name is entered on the specialty register may apply for a practising licence endorsed with a contact lens certification if the member meets the requirements in subsection 11(1) for a practising licence and submits the following additional information:
(a) a statement verifying that the applicant is not currently subject to any disciplinary finding that would prohibit the applicant from practising as a certified contact lens fitter;
(b) any information the Registrar requires to establish that the applicant is competent and capable and of such character to safely and ethically practise as a certified contact lens fitter;
(c) proof satisfactory to the Registrar that the applicant has passed any applicable examinations approved by the Board, if they have not held a practising licence endorsed with a contact lens certification in the 2 years immediately before applying for a practising licence endorsed with a contact lens certification.
(2) A member who holds a practising licence endorsed with a contact lens certification is authorized to use any and all instruments required to ensure that a contact lens is adequately fitted and that the best possible visible acuity is achieved.
Continuation of deemed practising licences from former Act
13 (1) A person who was approved under the former Act to practise optical dispensing is deemed to hold a practising licence under the Act and these regulations until the end of the registration year immediately following the year these regulations come into force.
(2) A person who was entitled to measure, fit, or adjust contact lenses under the former Act is deemed to hold a practising licence endorsed with a contact lens certification under the Act and these regulations until the end of the registration year immediately following the year these regulations come into force.
Renewing practising licences
14 (1) A practising licence remains in effect until the end of the registration year in which it is issued, unless it is suspended or revoked.
(2) To renew a practising licence, a member must submit all of the following to the Registrar:
(a) a completed application on the application form approved by the Board, including a statement verifying that the applicant is not currently subject to any disciplinary finding that would prohibit the applicant from practising optical dispensing;
(b) the applicable licence renewal fee established under the by-laws;
(c) proof satisfactory to the Registrar that the applicant
(i) has liability insurance coverage in the amount set by resolution of the Board,
(ii) has completed any professional development requirements approved by the Board;
(d) any information the Registrar requires to establish that the applicant is competent and capable and of such character to safely and ethically practise optical dispensing.
Renewing practising licences endorsed with contact lens certification
15 (1) A practising licence endorsed with a contact lens certification remains in effect until the end of the registration year in which it is issued, unless it is suspended or revoked.
(2) To renew a practising licence endorsed with a contact lens certification, a member must submit all of the following to the Registrar:
(a) a completed application on the application form designated by the Board, including a statement verifying that the applicant is not currently subject to any disciplinary finding that would prohibit the applicant from practising as a certified contact lens fitter;
(b) the applicable licence renewal fee established under the by-laws;
(c) proof satisfactory to the Registrar that the applicant
(i) has liability insurance coverage in the amount set by the Board,
(ii) has completed the professional development requirements approved by the Board;
(d) any information the Registrar requires to establish that the applicant is competent and capable and of such character to safely and ethically practise as a certified contact lens fitter.
Provisional permits for student opticians
16 (1) The Registrar must issue a provisional permit to a student optician if all of the following conditions are met:
(a) the student optician has paid the applicable permit fee established under the by-laws;
(b) the student optician is registered in the student register;
(c) either
(i) the student optician has successfully completed the portion of their dispensing optician education program required by the Board; or
(ii) the student optician graduated from their dispensing optician education program on a date that was within the required period of time set by the Board before they applied for a provisional permit.
(2) A provisional permit for a student optician expires on the earliest of the following dates:
(a) 1 month immediately after the date the student optician passes the registration examination for dispensing opticians;
(b) the date of the student optician’s third failure of the registration examination for dispensing opticians;
(c) the date of the third offering of the registration examination for dispensing opticians in the Province immediately after the eligibility date of the student optician to write the examination.
(3) A student optician is permitted to write the registration examination once their provisional permit as a student optician expires only if they meet the requirements determined by the Board.
(4) A student optician who holds a valid provisional permit as a student optician may practise optical dispensing only under the direct and constant supervision of their sponsor.
Provisional permits for specialty students opticians
17 (1) The Registrar must issue a contact lens provisional permit to a specialty student optician if all of the following conditions are met:
(a) the specialty student optician has paid the applicable permit fee established under the by-laws;
(b) the specialty student optician is registered in the specialty student optician register;
(c) either
(i) the specialty student optician has successfully completed the portion of their contact lens program required by the Board, or
(ii) the specialty student optician graduated from their contact lens program on a date that was within the required period of time set by the Board before they applied for a provisional permit.
(2) A contact lens provisional permit expires upon the earliest of the following dates:
(a) 1 month immediately after the date the specialty student optician passes the contact lens examination;
(b) the date of the specialty student optician’s third failure of the contact lens examination;
(c) the date of the third offering of the contact lens examination in the Province immediately after the eligibility date of the specialty student optician to write the examination.
(3) A specialty student optician is permitted to write the contact lens examination once their contact lens provisional permit expires only if they meet the requirements determined by the Board.
(4) A specialty student optician who holds a valid contact lens provisional permit may fit, measure, or adjust contact lenses only under the direct and constant supervision of their sponsor.
Sponsors
18 (1) A sponsor may sponsor a maximum of 2 students at a time, which, subject to the definition of sponsor in the Act, may include 2 student opticians, 2 specialty student opticians or 1 student optician and 1 specialty student optician.
(2) A sponsor must provide direct and constant supervision of their student opticians or specialty student opticians while the students are engaging in the practice of optical dispensing.
(3) Only fittings performed or hours worked under the supervision of a sponsor qualify as fittings or hours required to complete the course of study required in Section 19.
(4) A sponsor is responsible for immediately notifying the Registrar when they stop sponsoring a student optician, but the sponsor remains responsible for the student optician until the notification is received in writing by the Registrar.
(5) A student optician who changes their sponsor must immediately notify the Registrar in writing of the change.
Course of study for student opticians and specialty student opticians
19 (1) Before taking the exam for registration as a dispensing optician, a student optician must complete all of the following under the supervision of a sponsor within 3 years from the date they pass the mid-term examination of their dispensing optician education program:
(a) 250 fittings, at least 100 of which are multi-focal vision fittings;
(b) 2000 hours of practising optical dispensing.
(2) Before taking the contact lens examination, a specialty student optician must complete all of the following under the supervision of a sponsor in 3 years:
(a) 35 fittings for soft lenses;
(b) 15 fittings for rigid lenses.
Information on member’s registration and licensing status
20 Any dispensing optician or any member of the public may request verification of the registration or licensing status of a member from the Registrar.
Removal of name from registers
21 (1) The Registrar must remove the name of a member or a student from the appropriate register if any of the following occurs:
(a) the member or student requests it and surrenders all their licences and permits;
(b) the Registrar is notified of the death of the member or student;
(c) the registration of the member or student is revoked.
(2) The Registrar may suspend the licence of a member or the provisional permit of a student if the member or the student fails to pay fees required by the Act or these regulations or if the member or the student is otherwise suspended under the Act.
(3) The Registrar may restore the name of a person removed from a register to the register, and may issue an appropriate licence if the person
(a) pays the applicable fee established under the by-laws; and
(b) complies with the Act, these regulations and the by-laws.