On May 1, 2010 the Minister of Health, the Honorable Kevin Falcon, signed into force the new Opticians Regulation.

The amendments removed most restrictions on who may dispense corrective eyewear, allow independent sight-testing by opticians, require that interpupillary distance be provided in sight-tests and that opticians provide copies of sight-test results free of charge and whether or not requested, and implement the new shared scope of practice/restricted activities regulatory model for opticianry. For more information on scope of practice reform and restricted activities, please click here.

The College of Opticians of British Columbia is currently working with all stakeholders to define a “standard of practice” for refracting opticians. This may take another 60 days to complete.

The major change to the current Standards of Professional Practice are highlighted below:

• The results of the assessments, provided the client is within the listed limitations, no longer require a signature of a physician or optometrist.
• The results of an assessment can be used to dispense eyeglasses or contact lenses.
• On instructions from a physician or optometrist, you may provide refractive services to persons outside the limitations listed on the attached schedule.
• All refracting opticians are required to be certified by the College. You must have completed a training program prior to certification.
• The College is required to specify the type of equipment a refracting optician may use.
• A refracting optician must supply a copy of the results to the client at the completion of the assessment without charge.

For refracting opticains to continue their refracting certification by the College, they will be required to attend a seminar on the “jurisprudence” or the laws affecting refracting opticians. If a refracting opticain has completed the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) or the Opticians Association of Canada (OAC) automated refracting course, he/she will not be required to complete any other certification other than the jurisprudence seminar.

Unless authorized by a physician or an optometrist, Licensed Opticains must comply with the schedule of limitations in the new Opticians Regulation.

Click here for more information and frequently asked questions about the government's proposed regulation amendments.