Optometrists – Practice Resources

All registrants are required to comply with the Standards of Practice. The standards are written in plain language and span the full scope of optometric practice. Every registrant must determine – and accept accountability for – how each standard is implemented. The College provided Statements of Guidance to assist this process. The College views compliance with all standards as fundamental in the delivery of current, high quality optometric services that are safe, effective, and ethical. This in the joint interest of the public and the profession.

• Standards of Practice – General (PDF)
• Standards of Practice – Patient Activities (PDF)
• Standards of Practice – Quality Assurance (PDF)
• Standards of Practice – Indigenous Cultural Safety, Humility, and Anti-racism (PDF)

The Criminal Records Review Act (the “CRRA”) imposes an obligation on the College to ensure that every registrant consents to a criminal record check in accordance with Part 4 of the CRRA. This also includes non-practising registrants. Section 15(1)(a) of the CRRA imposes a duty on the registrant to undergo a criminal record check at least once every five years.

For more details please visit the BC Government page: Criminal Records Review Program – Applicants.

The Professional Enhancement Program (PEP) was launched in January 2023. It is now available to all CHCPBC registrants through the PEP Portal.

The College’s core mandate is to ensure public safety. Quality assurance is one of the mechanisms by which the College supports registrants in effectively maintaining and evolving their professional competence so that the services they provide to the public are safe and effective, throughout their careers.

To further enable registrants to provide the highest standard of service to the public, the College has introduced a new aspect of quality assurance – the PEP.

Based on the Career-Span Competence Approach and a core set of competencies, which align with CHCPBC Standards of Practice, the PEP enables registrants to better manage their ongoing, career-long, professional development and rise above minimum standards.

Read the Professional Enhancement Program overview (PDF)

The College is a resource for registrants to become informed and educated for the purpose of enhancing standards of practice.

The overwhelming majority of complaints received by the College are the result of a failure or breakdown in communications between the patient and the optometrist or the clinic staff. Resolving complaints before they escalate is often a matter of employing “best practices” in communicating with the patient who has a concern or complaint. Concerns and complaints often present indicators which may be useful, to the optometrist, for evaluating a clinic’s overall communication skills. The following is a complaint resolution method, employing four basic steps, which should be followed in order:

Listen

Ask the complainant to present their concerns in detail. Start with the facts. When all the facts have been recounted, encourage the complainant to present their perspective on the issue. Avoid interrupting or taking issue with anything the complainant says at this point; simply allow the story to be told.

Acknowledge

Acknowledge the complainant’s perspective. “So, you feel that…” Build agreement at each step. When both the optometrist and the complainant agree on the complainant’s perspective, that is, why the complainant feels that they have a concern, consider validating the complainant’s perspective. “I understand why you feel the way you do about this matter. In similar circumstances I would feel the same.” This is not an acknowledgement of fact, it is an acknowledgement of perspective – the way the complainant feels about the issue as they understand it.

Review

Build agreement on the verifiable facts with the complainant. “My record indicates that… Is that your understanding?” Be mindful that what one person says or thinks they say to another person may not be what that other person understands they said. As a professional, it is your responsibility to ensure that your patient understands what you, or your staff, say to them.

Fair Resolution

If errors were made, admit them and apologize. Ask the right question. “How can we fairly resolve this matter to your satisfaction?“

Health professionals regulated by CHCPBC are encouraged to regularly participate in professional and clinical learning activities in support of continuing professional development. CHCPBC values and supports its registrants in engaging in a variety of learning activities. These include activities eligible for the College’s annual Continuing Education (CE) hour requirements that have been accredited or approved by the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE) or CHCPBC, as well as activities not formally accredited or approved by COPE or the College.

Active participation in learning activities demonstrates to the public that registrants are actively engaged in the effort to provide safe, competent and effective care.

Registrants who intend to utilize learning activities towards their annual CE hour reporting requirements are responsible for ensuring these courses are either COPE or College approved prior to completing the learning activity. CHCPBC is unable to approve learning activities retroactively.

Optometry registrants who are not enrolled in OE Tracker are required to complete CHCPBC’s Continuing Education Record Form (PDF) to record their completed annual CE hour requirements. 

Approval of learning activities

Providers who intend to offer CE hour-specific learning activities for registered optometrists are encouraged to seek COPE approval for their proposed learning activities well in advance of the event. Organizers of learning activities can find out more about the COPE accreditation process by visiting the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry website. CHCPBC also encourages learning activity providers to contact BC Doctors of Optometry (BCDO) as BCDO may be able to support and be a resource to education providers when seeking COPE approval for their activities.

On a case-by-case basis, the CHCPBC may consider approving non-clinically related CE learning activities not otherwise approved by COPE. Learning activities that CHCPBC may consider for CE course approval are limited to regulatory-specific learning sessions developed or supported by CHCPBC for optometrists or that apply to all professions that CHCPBC regulates. 

Examples include:

• Preparing for the Health Professions and Occupations Act
• Cultural safety and humility
• Anti-discrimination
• Professional boundaries
• Infection prevention and control

Proposals for approval of learning activities specific to regulation for registered optometrists or for activities that apply to all CHCPBC regulated professions can be sent to QAPrograms@chcpbc.org. Organizers are required to include the following in their proposal:

• Name of organization/individual responsible for organizing the activity
• Date and duration of the activity
• Location & format of the activity (e.g., virtual, in-person)
• Title and content of the activity, including key content/outline
• Presenter(s) of the activity
• Qualifications of presenter(s)
• Indicators to ensure equal access to all registrants of the activity

CE course proposals to the College must be received at least 30 days prior to the activity and must be non-clinical in nature. Organizers seeking CE course approval of clinically focused learning activities are encouraged to contact BCDO for support and/or COPE for potential approval.

CHCPBC will continue to recognize CE hours obtained while participating in CHCPBC-approved and College-facilitated Peer Circle events.

Any CE course approved by the College must meet the goals of inclusivity and equal access to all optometry registrants, and provide opportunity for registrants to advance and enhance optometric professional practice competency to ensure safe and ethical care to the public.

Resources

• Open a New Place of Practice (PDF)
• Change a Place of Practice Name (PDF)
• Relocate a Place of Practice (PDF)
• Cease to Practice at a Place of Practice
  • A Registrant who ceases to practice/closes a place of practice must:
    • Complete a Transfer of Records Containing Personal Information Form (PDF) or complete a Declaration of Ownership of Records Form (PDF)
    • Update online profile
    • Complete a Declaration of Transferring Controlling Interest Form (PDF), if applicable.
    • Assuming Responsibilities (PDF)

• MSP Where Do I Begin (PDF)
• MSP – Information for Optometrists
• MSP Practitioner Registration Form (PDF)
• Request To Bill MSP For Low Vision Visual Fields Services (PDF)

• Before a student internship can begin, send a Notice of Student Internship form (PDF) to CHCPBC at registration@chcpbc.org.