The College of Opticians of Ontario regulates the practice of opticianry to protect the public interest. While the College does not regulate businesses or eyewear dispensaries, it never the less serves an important role in ensuring that the dispensing of prescription eyewear is carried out in accordance with the Regulated Health Professions Act, the Opticianry Act, and related legislation and regulations.
Under Ontario law, only a registered member of the College of Opticians of Ontario, the College of Optometrists of Ontario, or the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is authorized to dispense prescription eyewear, contact lenses, or subnormal vision devices (Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, s. 27(2)(9)).
Individuals who employ opticians or who own or operate a business that sells or dispenses eyewear must familiarize themselves with their legal obligations under the Regulated Health Professions Act, the Opticianry Act, the Personal Health Information Protection Act, and all related legislation and regulations. Please visit this page to review the legislation.
All individuals who employ opticians or operate an eyewear-related business, should contact aqualified legal professional for advice regarding their legal obligations.
Under the Regulated Health Professions Act mandatory reporting obligations pertain to persons:
Persons who are also a registrant with a regulated health professional College have additional mandatory reporting obligations, click here for more information.
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EmployerIf you employ an optician. |
Facility OperatorIf you are a person who is responsible for operating a facility where one or more opticians practice. |
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When to Report |
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Report Must Contain |
*The name of a patient who may have been sexually abused must NOT be included in the report unless the patient has consented in writing to the inclusion of his/her name. |
*The name of a patient who may have been sexually abused must NOT be included in the report unless the patient has consented in writing to the inclusion of his/her name. |
Timeframe |
The report must be made within 30 days of the termination, revocation, suspension, or resignation. |
The report must be made within 30 days. If, however, you have reasonable grounds to believe that the optician will continue to sexually abuse the patient or other patients, or that the optician's incompetence or incapacity is likely to expose a patient to harm or injury and there is urgent need for intervention, you must make the report as soon as possible. |
Failure to Report |
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Report |
To complete a mandatory report, click here. |
To complete a mandatory report, click here. |
Other Concerns |
Employers or facility operators may also contact the College to report a concern that falls outside of the mandatory reporting obligations referred to above. For more information, contact the College directly, or click here to learn more about the complaints process. |
If you would like to know what may constitute as professional misconduct for opticians, see the legislation governing the profession including:
Defined under the Health Professions Procedural Code (schedule 2 of the Regulated Health Professions Act) as: "suffering from a physical or mental disorder that makes it desirable in the interest of the public that the member's certificate of registration be subject to terms, conditions or limitations, or that the member no longer be permitted to practice." (Section 1(1)).
Incompetence is defined as: "a lack of knowledge, skill or judgment of a nature or to an extent that demonstrates that the member is unfit to continue to practice or that the member's practice should be restricted." (Section 52(1)).
Defined under the Health Professions Procedural Code (schedule 2 of the Regulated Health Professions Act) as: "a) sexual intercourse or other forms of physical sexual relations between the health professional and the patient; (b) touching of a sexual nature; and (c) behaviour or remarks of a sexual nature." (Section 1(3)).