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Credit Requirements

All Registered Opticians (RO) in the province are required to participate in and fulfill the requirements of the Quality Assurance Program set out by the College of Opticians of Ontario. The program consists of three basic components:

  1. Mandatory Continuing Education (CE) Credits
  2. Peer Assessment and professional improvement
  3. Remediation of inappropriate behaviour and remarks of a sexual nature

Credit Cycles and Due Dates

Each RO is assigned to a CE cycle based on the year in which they were first registered as an optician (in Ontario). Each cycle is three years in length and opticians have the responsibility to make sure that their skills are updated within each three-year CE cycle. All CE credits are due on or before December 31st for each three-year CE cycle. In October of each year, the Quality Assurance department sends out claims packages to all opticians whose cycle is coming to a close.

Opticians are expected to keep track of their current cycle. The College encourages ROs to retain copies of all letters of compliance sent to them when their CE cycle is successfully completed.

CE Requirements for New or Opticians Applying for Reinstatement

New Registrants

Newly Registered Opticians begin their three-year CE cycle on January 1st of the year following their initial registration. For example, a new registrant receives their certificate of registration as an optician on March 31, 2008. Their three-year CE cycle would begin on January 1, 2009 and end on December 31, 2011. They would be required to complete 30 credits within the three-year CE cycle. Any credits obtained between the initial registration as an RO and before the start of the first three-year CE cycle will be recognized by the College for that CE cycle.

Opticians Applying for Reinstatement

If an optician’s certificate of registration has been suspended for a period longer than three years, their application for reinstatement will go before the registration committee. The committee will evaluate the applicant’s qualifications and determine whether the applicant must meet any examination and Quality Assurance Program requirements in order to be reinstated.

If an optician’s certificate of registration has been suspended for a period less than three years, they will need to submit 30 credits (minimum 8 EG and 8 CL) for every cycle that they have missed while their Certificate of Registration was suspended. All reinstated opticians are placed back into their original three-year cycle, regardless of how long their certificate of registration was suspended.

Categories of CE Credits

CE courses and activities are categorized into five distinct areas of Opticianry:
  • Eyeglasses (EG)
  • Contact Lens (CL)
  • General Business (GB)
  • Professional Activity (PA)
  • Professional Experience (PE)
There are CE courses and activities that apply to both EG and CL classes. The courses are then categorized as Eyeglass or Contact Lens (EG/CL).

CE Credit Requirements and Submission

In each three-year cycle, opticians are required to complete 30 credits. Of the 30 credits, they need to submit a minimum of 8 EG credits and 8 CL credits. All other categories of credits are considered optional, meaning that if an optician does not wish to submit any GB, PA or PE credits they are not required to. Credits cannot be carried over to subsequent cycles.

Where to Find Credits

The College’s website contains a listing of upcoming seminars, events and distance learning. Alternatively, you may contact specific education providers for a complete listing of their courses and upcoming events.

Ways to Complete CE Credits

1) Self-Organized Study Groups Organize and form your own study group with optician friends or co-workers. Study groups are held according to the study group members' own schedules. For more information, please read the Amended Sponsor Accreditation Policy on our website, in the resource room.

2) On-line or Distance Learning Courses CE providers and sponsors host on-line or distance learning CE courses and activities. Please directly contact the provider or sponsor for more information.

3) CE Courses and Activities in Person Opticianry conventions, presentations and seminars across Ontario and throughout Canada may be accredited with CE credits. These are typically offered in public venues and available for all registrants. These opportunities are presented by associations, suppliers, providers, educational institutions and the College itself.

CE courses and activities in Ontario are required be accredited by the College in advance of the presentation date. Sponsors are prohibited from printing “approval pending” on CE slips and the College should be notified of any issues that arise due to incomplete or missing information on CE slips.

4) University/College Educational Studies CE credits for non-Opticianry education are evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the College. Opticians are asked to submit course outlines, notes and additional information to the College to apply for CE credits. Credits are awarded based on content and time commitment, as recommended by the Quality Assurance Committee.

5) Opticianry Education Development, Supervision and Publishing CE credits are available for developing CE courses, presenting CE courses, course instruction at opticianry programs, publishing articles on Opticianry and supervising Opticianry students.

6) Volunteer Work Opticians who engage in volunteering their opticianry services can indicate their activities on Form 3 of their CE Claims package with official documentation for CE credits.

Should you have any questions about the Quality Assurance Continuing Education Cycle, please check out our FAQ: Quality Assurance page or email the Manager of Quality Assurance at qa@coptont.org or phone 416-368-3616 ext. 209 or 1-800-990-9793 ext. 209.
  ©2006 College of Opticians of Ontario