Using the Refresher Program for Initial Registration

The following Refresher Program is for applicants for a certificate of registration as an Intern or Registered Optician whose education or national examinations are no longer current. The purpose of the Refresher Program is to permit applicants to meet the requirements for registration with the College.

How long it has been since you have passed your national exams or completed your education will determine which level of the Refresher Program you need to complete.

• If it has been under 6 years since you have completed your opticianry program or your national exams, you will complete Level 2.
• If it has been 6 to under 10 years since you have completed your opticianry program or your national exams, you will complete Level 3.
• If it has been 10 years or more since you have completed your opticianry program or your national exams, you will be required to undergo a Competency Gap Analysis (CGA) prior to returning to practice. 

Components of the Refresher Program include:

• Review of Standards and Practice Guidelines: To ensure familiarity with current professional expectations, and to account for any changes since the registrant last practiced.
• Jurisprudence: A review of some day-to-day practice requirements. These modules, which include written materials and assessment, were developed by the College of Opticians of Ontario (COO) and are available on the COO website at no cost. 
• Core Competency Modules: A refresher on practice skills that form the core competencies of opticianry practice. These modules were developed by the National Alliance of Canadian Optician Regulators (NACOR) to align with the National Competencies for Canadian Opticians. The modules include written materials and assessment.

Please note that a score of 80% is required on the NACOR modules for it to be considered a passing mark. If a second or any subsequent attempt is required on a NACOR module, the full fee ($100 + HST) will be charged by NACOR. This fee is set by NACOR and is subject to change.

If you need to complete Refresher Level 2 or 3, follow these steps:

1. Email registration@collegeofopticians.ca indicating that you would like to complete the Refresher Program and how long it has been since you completed your opticianry education or passed your national examinations. Please also indicate that you want to complete the Refresher Program so you can submit an Intern application or a Registered Optician application. The Registration team will connect you with NACOR for instructions on how to complete the NACOR modules. Payment will be made directly to NACOR.
2. Complete the NACOR modules. Once you have successfully completed the modules, NACOR will send you a confirmation of completion. Please keep this completion for your records.
3. Review the Standards of Practice & Practice Guidelines on the COO website.
4. Review the Code of Ethics on the COO website.
5. Once you have reviewed these two documents, please complete this attestation and keep it for your records.
6. Review and complete Jurisprudence: Record Keeping. You can do this via your registrant portal. Please click here for instructions as to how to access the module. You will receive a certificate of completion. Please keep this for your records.
7. Once you have completed the level of Refresher Program that applies to you, please submit a completed Intern application or Registered Optician application and email your records of completion (attestation for the two documents, completion of Jurisprudence module, and completion of NACOR modules) to registration@collegeofopticians.ca and confirm that you submitted an Intern or RO application.

If you need to complete the Competency Gap Analysis, follow these steps:

1. Email registration@collegeofopticians.ca indicating that you would like to complete the Competency Gap Analysis (CGA) and how long it has been since you completed your opticianry education or passed your national examinations. Please also indicate that you want to complete the Refresher Program so you can submit an Intern application or a Registered Optician application. The Registration team will connect you with NACOR for instructions on how to complete the NACOR modules. Payment will be made directly to NACOR.
2. If no bridging modules are needed, please keep a copy of the CGA decision for your records.
3. If bridging modules are required, please complete the specificed modules in your CGA decision. A score of 80% is required on the module to pass. Once you have completed the required bridging modules, you will receive a confirmation of completion. Please keep the CGA decision and confirmation of completion of bridging modules for your records.
4. Once you have completed the level of Refresher Program that applies to you, please submit a completed Intern application or Registered Optician application and email your records of completion (CGA decision and if applicable, completion of bridging modules if they were required) to registration@collegeofopticians.ca and confirm that you are submitted an Intern or RO application.