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How long do I keep patient records? What is the AGM? Can Opticians sign-off on passports for the general public? If I do not want to take part in any of the third party contracts including: Indian Affairs, Social Services etc. can I just choose not to or is there other paper work involved? How long do I keep patient records? The general meeting is held annually. It is a public forum to air grievances and to discuss and vote on important issues. In order to introduce a special motion to the agenda any twenty members in good standing may deliver written notice to the registrar thirty days before the meeting. This meeting is conducted much like a board of directors meeting. Old business is dealt with first, and then directors give a report, written in advance of the meeting, on their particular area. These reports include updated decisions made over the year and any progress in projects. Questions may be asked and are welcomed. The financial statement is reviewed and questions are answered. Any new business is discussed and voted on. The voting then takes place for new directors. Proxy and mail in ballots are accepted to allow more members to be a part in such important decisions. With the introduction of the Health Professions Act we are hoping that on line voting by computer will be available to further make this vote accessible. What are the requirements to be able to attend the AGM? In order to attend the general meeting you must be a member in good standing of the association. Only practicing members may vote. How long a term are they elected for? Director's terms are two years and three consecutive terms are permitted. A council member may be removed by a three quarters vote of council for conflict of interest or failing to attend to duties as a director. A council member may resign at any time with written notice. The council decides from amongst their ranks, who will hold the position of president and vice president for one year of their terms on the board. It is permissible for these positions to be held consecutively. What are the Nomination and Voting Procedures? Names are requested in advance. All nominations must be submitted in writing at least ninety days before elections and be signed by the nominee and five other members in good standing. Ballots will be mailed out to each member at least thirty days before elections. To vote by proxy the ballot must be placed in a sealed envelope, signed on the outside and received before the close of the voting. What does the Alberta Opticians Association do for me? The Alberta Opticians Association has been designated by the
government to protect the public. They do this by regulating
Opticians, by making sure that opticians: Opticians pay annual membership fees. These fees are mandatory to practice. The dues of Opticians pay for the regulation of Opticians. A patient wants to get new glasses with a prescription that is over two years old at one optical store, and another optical store has the prescription and won't release it. What is the policy on this? It doesn't matter how old the prescription is, it belongs to the patient. If the one optical store chooses to make the glasses from that prescription it is their decision. The other optical store has no say in the matter. I took my first year Contact Lens course at NAIT a few years ago, what is the time line between the first year and the second year to be taken? That is up to NAIT. I am a second year student, who has all my fitting hours, but I have not completed my final or practical exam, can I fit without supervision? No, you must have supervision until you are licensed. What is the National Examination? The National Examination Committee (NEC) is a subcommittee of NACO. The purpose of the National Examination Committee is to develop and maintain an examination, which will facilitate mobility. This examination is used in all provinces but has been assessed by other provinces as being equivalent to other exams. This process is ongoing. The National Examination is now used or accepted by 9 of the 10 provinces. How many credits do I need for my continuing education requirements to be fulfilled? In the three years following January 1, 2006 a licensed optician requires 20 credits. 12 of these credits must be in the EG category. The other eight can be from any category. Contact lens practitioners require additional 15 credits in the CL category. What do EG, CL, EC and RF stand for? EG stands for eyeglass. That is any credit that relates to the manufacturing, fitting or dispensing of eyeglasses. It may also include pathology or anatomy / physiology areas especially related to eyeglasses. CL stands for Contact lenses. That is any credit that relates to the manufacturing, modifying, fitting, cleaning or dispensing of contact lenses. EC stands for any course that can be used as either Eyeglass or Contact Lens. These are generally in the areas of Ocular Pathology, Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology or Refraction. RF stands for related field. That is any credit that is involving a field related to opticianry. That is optometry, ophthalmology or medical i.e. CPR. It can also be any credit that is sales, motivation, or business related. Can I carry over any of my excess credits to the next three-year term? Yes, you may carry over a maximum of five credits in the EG category and a maximum of five credits in the CL category. Do I still need credits if I am Non-Practicing status? You are required to have your continuing education credits up to date to maintain your non-practicing status. This ensures that no matter what the length of time you have been out of practice you will be prepared with the skills to enter back into practice. Why would credits be necessary if I am not practicing? The point of continuing education is to be sure that your knowledge is up to date and to the current levels of acceptable safety. When you reinstate or upgrade your license, if your credits are up to date we know that you have kept your knowledge current. How can I be sure that I am credited for courses that I have taken? Make sure to send one copy of your continuing education credit form to the association office and keep one for yourself. Every year along with your receipt an update of your continuing education credits is sent to you. You may also check the binders at the registration desk at convention. If the input clerk has missed a credit you will be asked to produce your own copy as proof. How can I have a course approved before I attend it? The Practice Review Committee has a form that can be filled in and sent for pre-approval of a course. This form can be downloaded from Opticians Information under continuing education. Field Supervision is the way NAIT makes sure all students are properly supervised and all supervisors have the information they need to be effective teachers. For more information see Student Information under NAIT field supervision. How many students may one supervisor have under them? One supervisor may have two eyeglass students. One supervisor may have one eyeglass and one contact lens student provided they hold a valid contact lens license. A contact lens student may supervise one eyeglass student while taking their course. |
Can Opticians sign off for passports?
No, Opticians cannot sign off on passports for the public.
If I do not want to take part in any of the third party contracts including: Indian Affairs, Social Services etc. can I just choose not to or is there other paper work involved?
An Optician can choose to not take part in the third party contracts however, one should notify the third party in writing. This shows that the Optical is not picking and choosing whome they service but rather, is choosing not to take part on any level of servicing the contract. By the same token, on shoud notify their intention of taking part if they have cancelled in the past, by way of written notification.
What is The National Accreditation Committee of Opticians (NACO)?
NACO is a loose association of regulatory bodies with the goal of developing ways to make the mobility of Optician licenses from province to province in Canada a reality. Each province's Regulatory Body has one seat and one vote in NACO.
Are Opticians in other provinces regulated the same way? How can I reach other provincial bodies?
Yes each province has a regulatory body.
College of Opticians of British Columbia
130-10691 Shellbridge Way
Richmond, B.C.
V6X 2W8
Phone (604) 278-7510
Fax (604) 270-3644
Saskatchewan Ophthalmic Dispensers Association
101-129 21 St. E.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7K 0B2
Phone (306) 652-0769
Fax (306) 652-0784
The Opticians of Manitoba
214-160 Hargrave
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 3H3
Phone (204) 982-6060
Fax (204) 947-2519
College of Opticians of Ontario
85 Richmond St. West #902
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 2C9
Phone (416) 368-3616
Fax (416) 368-2713
Ordre Des Opticiens d'ordonnances du Quebec
201-3446 St. Denis
Montreal, Quebec
H2X 3L3
Phone (514) 288-7542
Fax (514) 288-5982
Nova Scotia Board of Dispensing Opticians
16-5880 Spring Garden Road
Halifa, Nova Scotia
B3H 1Y1
Phone (902) 425-7628
Fax (902) 425-0360
New Brunswick Guild of Dispensing Opticians
P.O. Box 6743, Station A
St. John, New Brunswick
E2L 4S2
Phone(506) 642-2878
Newfoundland Guild of Dispensing Opticians
Box 2527
St. John's, Newfoundland
A1C 6K1
Phone (709) 579-2605
Fax (709) 579-2605
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