Optician Reinstatement

Under the new Registration Regulation that came into force on July 1, 2024, opticians whose certificates of registration have been suspended for non-payment of fees have a three-year window to apply for reinstatement. After the three-year period elapses, their certificate will be automatically revoked.

Revocation means that you are no longer registered with the College in any way and must reapply and retake licensing exams to return to practice in the future.

Important update for opticians suspended for over 3 years

As a result of recent changes to the College’s Registration Regulation, all opticians who have been administratively suspended for 3 years or more will be automatically revoked on July 1, 2025. This includes opticians who have previously advised the College that they have retired.

If you plan to return to practice in the future, or if you are unsure but want to keep your options open, you can select one of the following options:

• Join the new Inactive Class to maintain a non-practising status with the College: If you wish to maintain a non-practising status with the College beyond July 1, 2025, you may consider joining the new Inactive Class intended for non-practising opticians. 
  
  As an Inactive Optician, you renew your inactive status every year and pay a reduced (1/3) annual fee. You can remain in the Inactive Class as long as you wish. If you decide to return to practice, you may need to complete a refresher program before resuming practice, depending on how long you have been out of practice.  For more information see the Reinstatement and Changing from Inactive to Active Practice policy.
  
  To apply to join the Inactive Class, please complete the request form here.
   
• Apply to reinstate your certificate of registration as a Registered Optician: If you wish to reinstate to full practising status with the College, you may apply to do so up until July 1, 2025. To reinstate as Registered Optician, you will be required to undergo a Competency Gap Analysis (CGA) to assess currency of your knowledge and skills, pay the applicable fees, including the annual registration fee, and provide proof of professional liability insurance.

To apply to reinstate your certificate of registration, please complete the Reinstatement Form and email it to the College at registration@collegeofopticians.ca.  

If you do not plan to return to practice in the future, you can select one of the following options:

• Resign your certificate of registration: Resigning will end your registration with the College. To return to practise, you would be required to reapply to the College as a new optician and meet the registration requirements in place at that time. The public register will display your registration status as “resigned”. If you resign your registration due to retirement, you will also have the option to also display “retired” as the reason for your resignation.
  
  To resign your certificate of registration, please submit the online Resignation Form.
   
• Take no action: If you decide to take no action, your certificate of registration will be revoked on July 1, 2025.

Opticians practising in another Canadian province 

If you are currently practising opticianry in another Canadian province, you can choose to maintain an Inactive registration in Ontario by joining the new Inactive Class. If you decide to return to Ontario in the future you will be eligible to transfer back to the Registered Optician class and practice under the same registration number as before.

If you take no action or voluntarily resign your Ontario registration, after July 1, 2025 you will no longer be registered in Ontario. However, should you wish to return to Ontario in the future, you will be eligible to apply as a Labour Mobility Applicant as long as you are a registrant in good standing with another Canadian opticianry regulator. Upon registration, you will be issued a new registration number.

For more information see the Labour Mobility Policy. 

Registered Optician certificate suspended for under three years

If your certificate of registration was suspended within the last three years, you may reinstate your registration with the College by completing the online reinstatement form below, and submitting the following:

• A passport-style photo taken within 6 months of the application date. The photo may be sent as a hard copy or in a high-resolution digital format.
• Professional Liability Insurance certificate if you are currently employed or intend to be employed in any setting where you will be performing the controlled act of dispensing.
• Notarized copies of your employment eligibility documents (if the information you previously provided is no longer current).
• If applicable, a Certificate of Standing Form and letters of standing from any governing body with which you are registered in any jurisdiction.
• If applicable, proof of graduation from any post-secondary program you may have completed outside of opticianry that you have not previously reported to the College.

Apply Now

Requirement to demonstrate currency of practice

Effective July 1, 2024, Registered Opticians must demonstrate, on an ongoing basis, that their skills and knowledge are “current”, e.g. up to date, based on recent practice experience. You will be required to declare your practice hours every year at annual renewal. Those who have engaged in at least 500 practice hours within the previous three-year period will be considered current. While you are eligible to reinstate now, you must demonstrate going forward that you engaged in at least 500 practice hours within the previous three years, or you will not be eligible to continue to hold a Registered Optician certificate. Opticians who have not practised for at least 500 hours within the previous three years will have the option of completing a refresher program.

Detailed information about the currency requirements may be found here.