As a self-regulating profession, the COBC is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of elected and appointed members. Of the 10 board members, six are elected from the profession and four are appointed by government. Each board member serves a three-year term commencing at the beginning of the calendar year.
The Board of the College is responsible for ensuring that the duties and objectives of the college are met. The Board is also responsible for ensuring that the vision needs of the public of British Columbia are met by BC opticians through safe and effective means. In addition, the Board forecasts the long-term needs of the public in order to guide educational priorities and practice standards for BC opticians.
In the course of performing its duties and exercising its powers under the Health Professions Act and other enactments, the board is required to promote and enhance collaborative relations with other provincial entities including other colleges established under the Act, post-secondary academic institutions and the government.
The Board is also required to promote and enhance inter-professional collaborative practice between its registrants and persons practicing other health professions; as well as to promote and enhance the ability of its registrants to respond and adapt to changes in practice environments, advances in technology and other emerging issues.
Meetings of the Council of the College are open to the public and provide a forum for discussion of a wide range of issues affecting the governing of the profession.