Mandatory Continuing Education
All members are required to complete mandatory continuing education (CE) credits in order to renew their license at the end of each three-year con-ed cycle. For more information on mandatory continuing education, please visit the section on Continuing Education.
All classifications of Optician are required to get the following amount of credits:
- Eyeglass: 20 (min 12 Eyeglass Credits)
- Contact Lens: 35 (min 15 Contact Lens Credits)
- Provisional Optician: n/a
- Provisional Contact Lens Practitioner: 20 (min 12 Eyelgass Credits)
- Non-Practicing: you are encouraged to maintain your credits to allow an easier transition for if and when you return to practicing.
The next 3 year continuing education cycle will run from September 1, 2008 - June 30, 2011.
CE Requirements
All Registered Opticians and Registered Contact Lens Practitioners (practicing and non-practicing) are required to complete the mandatory Continuing Education (CE) requirements set out by the Alberta Opticians Association.
Please click below for more information about mandatory Continuing Education requirements:
CE Cycle & Due Dates
The AOA runs its continuing education requirements on three year cycles. Each member is responsible to acquire credits to maintain their license. The next three year cycle will run from September 1, 2008-June 30, 2011.
Each cycle is three years in length and Opticians and Registered Contact Lens Practitioners have the responsibility to make sure that their skills are updated within each three-year CE cycle. All CE credits are due on June 30th for each three-year CE cycle. In September of each three-year, the AOA mails out member CE summary form to all Opticians with their renewal registration form.
New Registrants
Newly registered Opticians begin their three-year CE cycle as soon as they become registered. Credits are then pro-rated depending on when the new Optician enters the three-year CE cycle. This allows for easier transition into the CE cycle.
- New registrations between July 1 2009 and December 31 2009 receive:
EG 5
CL 4 - New registrations between January 1 2010 and June 30 2010 receive
EG 10
CL 8 - New registrations between July 1 2010 and December 31 2010 receive
EG 14
CL 11 - New registrations between January 1 2011 and June 30 2011 receive
EG 20
CL 15
Opticians Applying for Reinstatement
If an Registered Optician's certificate of registration has been suspended, they will need to submit CE credits for every three-year CE cycle that they have missed while their Practice Permit was suspended. All reinstated Opticians are placed back into their original three-year cycle, regardless of how long their certificate of registration was suspended.
| Please Note: The Alberta Opticians Association is not responsible for keeping track of individual registrants' credit slips until they are submitted by registrants to the AOA as requested for compliance with a Continuing Education Cycle. Should you need copies of any certificates earned, you must contact the providers of those particular activities, not the AOA. |
Categories of CE Credits
CE courses and activities are categorized into four distinct areas of Opticianry:
- Eyeglass (EG)
- Contact Lens Practice (CL)
- Personal Advancement - Related Fields (RF)
- Both Eyeglass and Contact Lens Practice (EC)
CE Cycle Requirements Registrants are to complete the minimum number of credits in the EG and/or CL categories, depending on their registration category. After meeting this requirement, registrants complete the remainder of the credits with CE courses and activities in the categories of their choosing. In addition 2/3 of the total required credits must come from a professional provider recognized by the AOA and the remaining 1/3 can be taken from other providers.
- Registered Optician, RO
20 Eyeglass Credits (12 EG min) - Contact Lens Practitioner, RCLP
35 Contact Lens Credits ( 12 EG and 15 CL min) - Related Field Credits
Max of 8 RF credits per 3 yr cycle
Carry-over Credits
The AOA requires a set number of CE credits for each three-year CE cycle. If registrants have completed more than the set number of required credits, the AOA will recognize CE credits from one CE cycle to 'carry-over' into the next CE cycle as follows:
- Eyeglass: 5 credits
- Contact Lens: 5 CL and 5 EG
Ways to Complete CE Requirements
1) Self-Study Club
Organize and form your own study club with Optician friends or co-workers. Study clubs are held according to the study club members' own schedules.
2) On-line or Distance Learning Courses
Opticianry associations host on-line or distance learning CE courses and activities. Please directly contact the associations for more information.
3) CE Courses and Activities in Person
Opticianry conventions, presentations and seminars across Alberta and throughout Canada may be accredited with CE credits. These are typically offered in public venues and available for all registrants. These opportunities are presented by associations, suppliers, educational institutions and the AOA.
CE courses and activities in Alberta are required be accredited by the AOA in advance of the presentation date.
4) University/College Educational Studies
CE credits for non-Opticianry education are evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the AOA. Registrants are asked to submit course outlines, notes and additional information to the AOA to apply for CE credits. Credits are awarded based on content and time commitment, as recommended by the Continuing Competency Committee.
5) Participation in Opticianry Organizations
CE credits are accredited for participation at Annual General Meetings (AGM) by the AOA and Opticinary associations, serving on the AOA Board and Committees, and administering the Registration Examination.
6) Opticianry Education Development, Supervision and Publishing
CE credits are available for developing CE courses, presenting CE courses, course instruction at Opticianry programs, publishing articles on Opticianry and supervising Opticianry students.
7) Volunteer Work
Registrants who engage in volunteering their Opticianry services can apply to the COBC with official documentation for CE credits.