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.

More information about licence renewal for 2026/2027 will be posted on the CHCPBC website.

Why?

The CHCPBC Bylaws that have been drafted to comply with the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) and will come into effect on April 1, 2026 remove the Non-Practising registration class. CHCPBC has just under 400 registrants in this class across eight of the nine professions we regulate.

This change is not required by the HPOA, but the Non-Practising class no longer serves its intended purpose. For many colleges this class allowed registrants to stay in touch with their college while they were temporarily away from practice: they could receive newsletters, which were sent by mail in those days, and other communications. The pathway back to full registration may also have been simpler in those days. Newsletters, and much more information, are now available on the College website. For many years, the pathway to return to full registration from Non-Practising has been virtually the same as returning from “Former” (cancelled). In addition, removing the Non-Practising registration class provides a clearer message to the public that an individual is either licensed to practice or they are not.

When?

The class will be discontinued when the HPOA comes into effect on April 1, 2026. Because this coincides with the first day of the new registration year, Non-Practising registrants will not be able to renew as non-practising licensees during renewal in February/March 2026.

What are my options?

If you are currently a Non-Practising registrant, you have 3 options:

Option 1: Do nothing, and your registration will expire automatically on April 1, 2026. You may return to practice in BC at a later date by meeting the requirements in place at that time. Please refer to the draft HPOA Bylaws for Licensure, section 6-31 (PDF).

Option 2: Cancel your registration during renewal. You may return to practice in BC at a later date by meeting the requirements in place at that time. Please refer to the draft HPOA Bylaws for Licensure, section 6-31 (PDF).

• During the renewal period you will have the option to cancel your registration in the registrant portal.

Option 3 Apply for reinstatement. There are 2 possible scenarios:

a. If you have been away from practice for less than 3 years

Steps and requirements to apply for reinstatement to full registration

• Submit a Status Change application via your online portal.
• Email a copy of a valid insurance certificate to registration@chcpbc.org.
• Authorize and pay for a Criminal Record Check (CRC) (Only if it has expired).

Timeline

5–10 business days after the reinstatement application is submitted.

b. If you have been away from practice for 3 years or more:

Steps and requirements to apply for reinstatement to full registration

• Email registration@chcpbc.org to confirm that you would like to reinstate your licence.
• We will forward your information to NACOR (National Alliance of Canadian Optician Regulators).
• Complete the Competency Gap Analysis (CGA) administered by NACOR.
• PLAR Resource Guide – for more detailed information on the CGA/PLAR process.

Timeline

• If no gaps are identified in the CGA: 5–10 business days after reinstatement application is submitted.
• If gaps are identified: 3 months – 1 year (Depending on requirements).

Cost

• Eyeglasses CGA 1: $350 + tax
• Eyeglasses CGA 2: $350 + tax
• Contact Lens CGA: 1 section = $350 + tax
• Bridging modules (if required): $100 + tax per module assigned
• Plus applicable registration fee:

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 

Access the online portal to: 

• Change your status from Non-Practising to Practising*
• 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)

* Non-Practising status will be discontinued April 1, 2026. Learn more.

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