Opticians – Registrants

What is renewal?

Registrants must renew their licensure annually in order to remain in good standing with CHCPBC. During the annual renewal period, registrants are asked to review their personal information on file, update any out-of-date documentation, and pay their licensing fees for the coming year.

When does renewal happen?

Optician and contact lens fitter licences expire on March 31 each year. The same expiration date applies to all registrants, regardless of initial registration date.

The online renewal portal is typically open for about 6–7 weeks. Registrants can renew their licensure any time from mid-February through until March 31.

How much does renewal cost?

Opticianry fees can be found under the fees section. The amount due during renewal is the annual licensing fee.

What are the requirements for renewal?

Each registrant must submit an online renewal application and pay the applicable fees before the March 31 deadline. The process can be completed entirely online, through the CHCPBC opticianry portal. (The RENEWAL tab is only accessible to registrants during the annual renewal period.) CHCPBC’s Renewal Guidebook for Opticianry explains the steps to complete the process. 

A registrant can only renew their licence if their Continuing Competency Program is up to date.

What happens after March 31?

An optician or contact lens fitter registrant who has not completed their renewal by the March 31 deadline will have not completed renewal have their licence cancelled.

What are the consequences of cancellation?

A cancelled registrant is considered unlicensed. These individuals cannot use protected titles (“optician,” “contact lens fitter,” or any title derived thereof) or perform contact lens fittings or independent automated refractions in BC. Their names no longer appear on CHCPBC’s Public Register, and they must return their Certificates of Registration to CHCPBC.

A reinstatement fee applies to any cancelled individual wishing to return to licensure. Additional assessments may be required to ensure their competency at the time of reinstatement.

For more information about renewal, read out renewal FAQ.

Reinstatement is the process of returning to practice following the cancellation of licensure.

Cancellation occurs when a registrant fails to maintain the requirements of registration (e.g., by failing to renew their licence during the annual renewal period, or by failing to complete their Continuing Competency Program by their cycle end date).

Within three years of the date of cancellation, a former registrant may apply for reinstatement by:

• Submitting a reinstatement application
• Paying the applicable fees (including a reinstatement fee and the licensing fee for the current year)
• Submitting to a new criminal record check, if their previous check has expired
• Completing any outstanding continuing education requirements

If more than three years have passed since the date of cancellation, a former registrant must go through an additional assessment process to determine whether their skills and knowledge still meet the entry-to-practice standards for BC opticians. The assessment is administered by NACOR and can be completed online with virtual supervision. The cost of the assessment depends on which assessments the applicant will need to take. Fees are collected by NACOR.  

The results of the assessment will be used to determine the appropriate next steps for the applicant’s return to practice. They may be eligible to return to practice immediately, or they may need to complete additional coursework to address competency gaps identified in the assessment process. 

Once the assessment process (including any applicable coursework) is complete, the former registrant may apply for reinstatement by: 

• Submitting a reinstatement application 
• Paying the applicable fees (including a reinstatement fee and the licensing fee for the current year) 

• Submitting to a new criminal record check, if their previous check has expired 

Thinking of going non-practicing? Upgrading your licence? To change the status of your CHCPBC opticianry licence, you’ll have to log in to your online profile and navigate to the CHANGE STATUS tab. Here, you’ll be able to: 

• Change your status from practicing to non-practicing, and vice versa 
• Add contact lens fitting to your licence (upon completion of the applicable education and exams) 
• Add a certification to conduct independent automated refractions (upon completion of the applicable education and exams) 

Updating your information:

Moved? Changed phone numbers? Got a new job? It is important that COBC have your most up to date contact information, including your preferred email address, to ensure you do not miss updates sent by the College via email or mail.

In order to update your personal and/or business information, you’ll have to log in to your online profile and navigate to the MY PROFILE tab. Here, you’ll be able to:

• Change your contact information
• Update personal details, like pronouns and preferred name
• Add a new business address and/or delete an old one
• Set your preferences related to volunteering, information sharing, and where you’d like to be contacted

Moved? Changed phone numbers? Got a new job? It is important that CHCPBC have your most up to date contact information, including your preferred email address, to ensure you do not miss updates sent by the College via email or mail. 

In order to update your personal and/or business information, you’ll have to log in to your online profile and navigate to the MY PROFILE tab. Here, you’ll be able to:

• Change your contact information
• Update personal details, like pronouns and preferred name
• Add a new business address and/or delete an old one
• Set your preferences related to volunteering, information sharing, and where you’d like to be contacted