Optometrists

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 optometry. 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 renew as Non-Practising before October 31, 2025, you may remain Non-Practising until March 31, 2026. During renewal in February/March 2026 you will 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. If you have been away from practice for less than 1 year and wish to reinstate effective April 1, 2026, follow the steps and requirements below: 

Steps and requirements to apply for reinstatement to full registration

• Submit an application for reinstatement via your online portal. 
• Authorize and pay for a Criminal Record Check (CRC) if it has expired. 

Timeline 

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

Cost 

Reinstatement fee: $265 

Annual Fee for 2026/2027: $1,195 

Step 1

Complete the Authorization to Prepare an Optometric Corporation (PDF) and apply to the College with your proposed name, which must end with “Optometric Corporation” — e.g., “Dr. John Doe, Optometric Corporation” or “John Doe O.D., Optometric Corporation.”

Step 2

Once the College approves the name, apply to the Registrar of Companies (via your lawyer) to register as a professional corporation.

Step 3 – Declarations

After you have successfully registered as a professional corporation with the Registrar of Companies, email copies of the following documents to the College at corporations@chcpbc.org:

• Form 15: BC Optometric Corporation Permit Application (PDF)
• Certificate of Incorporation
• Current Register of Directors of the Corporation
• Current Central Securities Register of Shareholders of the Corporation

Step 4

Upon receipt of the documents listed in Step 3 above, you will be assigned a temporary application number, and an invoice for the initial permit fee will be sent to you by email. Please make the payment electronically using your online College profile.

Once the above criteria are met, and the College verifies your payment, a BC optometric health profession corporation permit will be issued to you, following which you are permitted to conduct business under the approved corporation name.

Forms

• Authorization to Prepare an Optometric Corporation (PDF)
• Form 15: BC Optometric Corporation Permit Application (PDF)

Optometric Health Profession Corporation FAQ

1. How do I form an optometric health profession corporation?
   Please refer to the steps set out in this page. Start by emailing the completed Authorization to Prepare an Optometric Corporation (PDF) to corporations@chcpbc.org. An approval letter with information on incorporation will be issued to you within 20 business days of receipt of your complete request
2. Can my optometric health profession corporation name be anything of my choosing?
   No. The name of your optometric health profession corporation must comply with section 6 of Schedule 27 of the Bylaws, which reads:
   6.1 The name of a Health Profession Corporation must end with the words “Optometric Corporation” and include:
   6.1.1 the Registrant’s surname and first name; or
   6.1.2 the Registrant’s surname and initials of the Registrant’s first and middle names.6.2 A Health Profession Corporation must not use a name that:
   6.2.1 is identical to that under which another Health Profession Corporation holds a valid HPC Permit issued under Part 1 of this Schedule;
   6.2.2 so closely resembles the name of another Health Profession Corporation which holds a valid HPC Permit issued under Part 1 of this Schedule that it is likely to confuse or mislead the public; or
   6.2.3 contravenes heading 3.0 of Schedule 14.
3. Can I provide optometric health profession services once I obtain name approval?
   No. You are not permitted to provide optometric health profession services under the approved corporation name until a BC Optometric Health Profession Corporation permit is issued to you by the College
4. When is my Optometric Health Profession Corporation permit issued?
   If your incorporation documents are deemed acceptable and meet all the terms and conditions set out in the Health Profession Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 183 and Bylaws, a BC Optometric Health Profession Corporation permit will be issued to you.

Resources

• Optometric Health Profession Corporation Articles (PDF)

Please note that the articles do not have any provision for different classes of shares or rights and restrictions for the shares. These will normally be determined by you together with advice from your accountant and lawyer. These articles will be sufficient if you have only one class of common shares with no special rights and restrictions. Paragraphs 3.6, 3.7 and 13.4 in the attached proforma Articles of Association must be included in your Articles. Unless your Articles have these clauses or ones similar to them, your corporation documents will not be approved as an optometric health profession corporation. Please review these sections closely and if you have any questions, please look at Sections 40 to 50 of the Health Profession Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 183.

Please note: to align with the terminology in the governing legislation, the term “health profession corporation” will be used in place of “optometric corporation.”

The College of Health and Care Professionals of BC Bylaws were recently amended to align renewal cycles for registration, certification, and health profession corporations to March 31, across all nine professions regulated by CHCPBC, by March 31, 2026. These amendments were approved by the College Board following a period of public consultation that ended March 14, 2025.

Renewal process for 2026/2027 permit year

March 31, 2026 is the next renewal deadline for optometric health profession corporation (HPC) permits.

Each year, registrants who hold HPC permits must renew their permits to practice optometry through an optometric health profession corporation in BC. As per the College bylaws, you must ensure that all requirements including payments for HPC renewal are received by the Registrar, on or before March 31.

Renew your HPC permits online beginning mid-February by accessing your renewal form in the Licensee Portal. Once you log in click on “Renew” button next to “Corporation Registration”.

Step 1 – Instruction/Health Profession Corporation

Permit Renewal Details

Since this step details the fees, penalties, refund policy, and privacy policy, we urge you to read carefully before you proceed.

Step 2 – Profile

If any item needs to be changed in your profile that requires contacting the College, you will still be able to successfully submit your HPC permit renewal online.

Step 3 – Declarations

Complete the Statutory Declarations. Please note that in order to proceed to the next step, all of the declarations must be completed.

Step 4 – Payments

The HPC Permit renewal fee of $120 is payable to the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC.

If you are not renewing your Health Profession Corporation Permit

If you are not renewing your HPC permit, you must provide written notification to the Registrar, no later than March 31, 2026. Please note that an optometric health profession corporation whose permit is not renewed on or before March 31, 2026, will cease to be an optometric health profession corporation as of April 1, 2026.

For reinstatement procedure, please contact the College at registration@chcpbc.org.

• Form 12 Reinstatement Application (PDF)