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.

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

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 

In preparation for the Health Professions and Occupations Act coming into force on April 1, 2026, the College is revising instructions and forms related to health profession corporations. The College will not accept applications for new health profession corporations between March 16 and April 1, 2026. On April 2, 2026 a new application form will be available on this page.

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.

What happens if you do not renew

If you do not complete the renewal process by the March 31 deadline, your HPC permit will be cancelled on April 1. Cancellation of HPC permit means your corporation(s) is(are) prohibited from carrying on the business of providing designated health services to the public.

If you choose to not renew your HPC permit, you must provide written notification to the Registrar, no later than March 31, 2026.

Reinstatement within 30 days

To reinstate your health profession corporation permit up to 30 days after the renewal deadline (April 1–30), you can complete the renewal application in the Licensee Portal and pay the late renewal fee (in addition to your annual permit fee).

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

• Form 12 Reinstatement Application (PDF)