Opticians

Licence renewal for 2026/2027

The CHCPBC Bylaws were amended to align renewal cycles for licensing, certification, and health profession corporations to a deadline of March 31, across all nine professions regulated by the College, starting in 2026. The amendments were approved by the CHCPBC Board following public consultation.

Licence renewal for 2026/2027 will open February 18, 2026 in the Licensee Portal for opticianry. March 31, 2026 is the renewal deadline.

To view the CHCPBC Fee Schedule, see Fees.

For detailed information on renewing your licence for 2026/2027, see the Renewal page.

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 

Moved? Changed phone numbers? Got a new job? It is your responsibility to ensure that CHCPBC has your most up-to-date information, including your preferred email address, to ensure you do not miss updates sent by the College.

Access the portal to:

• Change your contact information
• Update personal details, like pronouns and preferred name
• Add a new employer and/or delete an old one