Using the Refresher Program to Meet the Currency Requirement

If you are a Registered Optician who will not be able to meet the currency requirement (500 practice hours over 3 years) as you near the end of your third year, you can use the Refresher Program to help you meet the requirement for that 3-year period. This Refresher Program can be done before you renew to help meet the currency requirement.

If you are a Registered Optician seeking to maintain currency, the number of years since you have been current will determine which level of the Refresher Program you will need to complete.

• If it has been 3 to under 6 years since you have been current, you will complete Level 2.
• If it has been 6 to under 10 years since you have been current, you will complete Level 3.

The 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:

1. Email registration@collegeofopticians.ca indicating that you would like to complete the Refresher Program for currency reasons. 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 email your records of completion (attestation for the two documents, completion of Jurisprudence module, and if required, completion of NACOR modules) to registration@collegeofopticians.ca.