As part of the College of Opticians of British Columbia's Quality Assurance Program, each Registered Dispensing Optician and Contact Lens Fitter Dispensing Optician is required to complete Continuing Education (CE) in three-year cycles. Registrants are required to submit CE credits to the COBC at the end of the three-year cycles.
How to submit CE Certificates or CE activities for:
For Registrants:
| Submitting CE Certificates for the Current CE Cycle (deadline: December 31, 2009) Registrants whose three-year CE cycle ends on December 31, 2009 are invited to submit their certificates of CE completion to the COBC starting June 2009. Please ensure that the required number of CE credits are completed before submitting them to the COBC. CE certificates can be mailed (preferred), faxed or emailed to the COBC. Please submit all CE certificates as one package. The COBC will verify the completion of the credits and issue a written confirmation to registrants. |
The COBC developed the following tools to assist registrants in submitting CE certificates:
- MCE Credit Submission Form, by Registrants
This tally form assists registrants in ensuring that they have met the minimum requirements in the number of CE credits and categories.
- Current List of Approved CE Courses
This list contains all the pre-approved CE courses and their value in CE credits.
- List of Other Activities
This list contains information on other activities that may be accredited with CE credits. This can include volunteering at the COBC Board or Committees, acting as Examiner for the Registration Examinations, community vision screening, voluntary optical work (locally and internationally), and supervision of Opticianry students.
To apply for CE credits for these other activities, registrants are to submit official documentation of their participation in these activities, including specific dates and hours of participation.
Please note that accreditation of such activities is at the discretion of the Quality Assurance Committee and the COBC. Registrants are reminded that at least 70% of their CE credits must be from professional Opticianry providers. Please see CE Activities for more information.
- Application for Accreditation of Courses or Events, by Registrants
This application form is for registrants who plan to attend or have attended seminars or events that are not pre-approved by the COBC. Such seminars or events may include non-Opticianry courses with academic institutions, vision care professionals conventions in B.C., vision care professionals conventions outside of B.C., and private staff training sessions.
In addition to the application form, please also submit all supporting materials that can assist the COBC in the accreditation process. These materials can include handouts, outlines, PowerPoint presentations, self-assessments, tests, the registrant's personal notes of the seminar or event, and the registrant's personal summary or review of the seminar or event.
Please note that accreditation of such courses or events is at the discretion of the Quality Assurance Committee and the COBC. Registrants are reminded that at least 70% of their CE credits must be from professional Opticianry providers. Please see CE Activities for more information.
- Application for Study Club
Registrants who are submitting credits for pre-approved study clubs are to submit the confirmation of approval and the written summaries or reviews of study club sessions. Registrants who wish to obtain pre-approval for a new study club should see Design Your Own Learning for more information.
For Providers (individuals and/or organizations) of Continuing Education:
Submitting Course Outlines for Credit Approval
Providers of Continuing Education submit the following 4 materials to the COBC for accreditation, prior to the presentation of the seminar or event. In order to give registrants appropriate advance notice of events, providers are strongly advised to submit the applications for accreditation at least 30 days prior to the scheduled seminar or event.
1) Application for Providers of MCE courses
Providers complete and submit the application form to the COBC (electronic version is preferred).
2) Biographical Information on presenter
Providers complete and submit the biography for each presenter (electronic version is preferred).
3) Supporting Course Materials
Providers include all relevant course materials with the submission of the application form and biographical information. Course materials can include course outline, PowerPoint presentations, handouts and tests (electronic version is preferred).
4) Processing Fees
- Application at least 30 days prior to the scheduled event: No processing fee
- Application between 15 to 30 days prior to the scheduled event: $15 per activity
- Application less than 15 days prior to the scheduled event: $50 per activity
The course application and materials will be evaluated by the COBC within five (5) working days, and the COBC will inform the provider of the status of the course. Approved course will be assigned a COBC code number, CE credit value and a short title.
At the conclusion of the CE event, providers are responsible for providing a proof of completion certificate to each participating registrant. The certificate must include the registrant's name, registration number, course code, credit value and short title.