November 3, 2026
2027 Renewal is now open!
The 2027 Optician Renewal season is here, and the renewal portal is now open for Registered Opticians and those in the Inactive class.
Due to a system outage, the College is temporarily unable to receive calls. Please reach out to us via email at [email protected] for any inquiries, and we will get back to you as soon as possible
Important Reminders About Renewal
- The renewal deadline is January 15, 2027. Please renew your Certificate of Registration before 11:59 pm on January 15 to avoid any late fees and to ensure you are eligible to practice in Ontario in 2027.
In addition, the deadline to complete your 2026 professional portfolio is January 15, 2027. If you have changed your status at any time in 2027 (e.g. moved to/from the Inactive class), you must submit a professional portfolio. For any questions related to your professional portfolio requirements, please contact the Quality Assurance department at [email protected].
- Not renewing for 2027? There are impacts to non-renewal, including potential automatic revocation: As a result of recent changes to the College’s Registration Regulation, registrants who do not renew their registration are at risk of being automatically revoked following three years of inactivity. If you are not planning to renew your registration, we strongly encourage you to click here to learn more before deciding on the course of action that is right for you.
- Currency tracker: Registered Opticians are required to report the number of practice hours they worked in the previous calendar year. This is part of the ongoing currency requirement for Registered Opticians. During this renewal cycle, Registered Opticians will be asked to declare their practice hours for 2026. A reminder that you do not have to complete 500 practice hours in one year, but over 3 years. Detailed information about the currency requirements may be found here.
- Requesting a class change (Registered Optician to Inactive or vice versa): Opticians who wish to transfer between the Registered Optician class and the Inactive Optician class may now do so in their renewal application.
Important: Requests for a class change during the renewal period must be made by January 8, 2027. Any requests received between January 8 and January 15 will be processed AFTER the renewal deadline of January 15.
- Online renewal for Contact Lens Mentors: Renewal of your Contact Lens Mentor status has now moved online. If your Contact Lens Mentor status expires before December 31, 2027, you will be prompted with an option to renew it as part of the annual renewal process. Your renewed mentor status will be valid until December 31, 2029.
- Updating your employment information: Please note that as a result of system changes, some opticians may be asked to re-enter their current employment information.
- New voluntary demographic survey: The voluntary demographic survey aims to help the College of Opticians of Ontario better understand the diversity of the profession and the experiences of the opticians working within it. By learning more about the people who make up the profession, the College can build a clearer picture of representation, identify potential barriers, and help ensure that its policies, programs, and initiatives are informed by the experience of its registrants. The survey is voluntary, so you may answer all, some, or none of the survey questions. For more information about the survey, please click here.
How do I access my renewal portal?
To access your renewal portal:
- Click on the Registrant Portal button on the College website
- Enter your username and your previously created password
- your username is your 3- or 4-digit College registration number
- if you don't remember your password, click on "Forgot my Password" to have a reset link sent to the email address on file with the College. Check your junk folder if you do not see the reset email.
- Once you are logged in, click on the "Renew your Registration" button located on the right side of the screen above "Personal Details".
What information do I need on hand when completing my renewal?
For detailed information regarding the information/ documentation you need to submit as part of your renewal, please visit the Renewal section of our website here.
Incomplete Renewals
In order to complete the renewal process, you must provide all of the information requested and upload the required documents, including proof of insurance and a photograph, where requested. Once you submit your renewal, you will receive an email from the College either approving your renewal or notifying you of any outstanding requirements. Please review this email to ensure you have met all the renewal requirements and there are no outstanding requirements pending.
If any documents or information are not included with your renewal your renewal will be considered incomplete and will be put on hold until the information/documents are received. It is your responsibility to ensure that any outstanding information/documents are uploaded to the portal before the January 15 deadline.
Opticians whose renewal is still incomplete after the January 15, 2027 deadline will receive a notice that their registration will be administratively suspended.
Renewal & Quality Assurance Webinar
If you have questions about renewal and the Quality Assurance deadline, please join our webinar on November 26 at 12pm. Click here to register.
Tax Receipt
Once you have completed your renewal, please allow up to 48 hours for your tax receipt to become available. To access your receipt, please login to the Registrant Portal, click the Documents tab, and select the year in which you made your payment.
Have questions or need assistance?
If you have any questions relating to the renewal process or have difficulty accessing your renewal, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions or get in touch with us:
