COBC Newsletter May 2021

Reinstatement information and right to title

Suspension & reinstatement

Do you know someone whose licence has been suspended? If your colleague or friend did not renew their registration by April 30, they will have received an official notice of suspension from COBC this week. However, licence reinstatement is still an option, as long as they fulfil the requirements for registration. To find out what is required and how to complete the reinstatement process, please click here. 
 

Right to title

Registering with the College of Opticians of British Columbia means you are a Licensed Optician: a healthcare professional who has the right to use certain practice titles such as optician and contact lens fitter, and variations of these titles (Health Professions Act, Opticians Regulations, section 2). Unlicensed individuals do not have this right.

COBC has the responsibility to investigate any individual misusing these titles, including registrants who are practicing under a title they are not licensed to use. Misuse of title is a public safety issue, as it misleads people seeking care into believing they are working with a licensed healthcare professional. Other protected titles include dentist, optometrist and massage therapist.

Read more
 

Renewal is now closed

The renewal portal is now closed. Thank you to everyone who has renewed their licence for this registration year! If you have any questions about renewal, please contact us. 

Remember that renewal happens annually—usually starting in mid-February and ending March 31.
 

Did you know?

Licensed Opticians have an obligation to ensure public safety in their workplaces. Titles such as optician, dispensing optician, contact lens fitter, optical dispenser, and contact lens technician may only be used by registrants of COBC. If someone you know uses a protected title or performs restricted activities but is not licensed, you must report it.

College of Opticians of BC operates on the traditional, ancestral and unceded Coast Salish territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.

Unsubscribing from this email will revoke your consent to receive email correspondence from us as outlined in Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). We will no longer be able to send you important reminders pertaining to your licence, which may affect your registration with the College of Opticians of BC. Please contact us if you have any questions.