Optometrists Profession Regulation

( Consolidated up to 58/2023) ALBERTA REGULATION 83/2003 Health Professions Act OPTOMETRISTS PROFESSION REGULATION Table of Contents 1 Definitions 2 Register categories Registration 3 General register education and exam requirements 4 Equivalent jurisdiction 5 Equivalent competence 6 Courtesy register applications 7 Resuscitation certificate Titles and Abbreviations 10 Authorization to use titles, etc. Practice Permit Renewal Requirements 21 Renewal requirements Transitional Provisions, Repeal and Coming into Force 33 Transitional provisions 34 Repeal 35 Coming into force Definitions 1 In this Regulation, (a) “active practice” means practising as an optometrist for at least the number of days approved by the Council in each period of 3 consecutive years; (b) “College” means The Alberta College of Optometrists; (c) to (d) repealed AR 58/2023 s2; (e) “Council” means the council of the College; (f) “courtesy register” means the courtesy register category of the regulated members register; (g) “general register” means the general register category of the regulated members register; (h), (i) repealed AR 58/2023 s2; (j) “Registrar” means the registrar of the College; (k) “Registration Committee” means the registration committee of the College; (l), (m) repealed AR 58/2023 s2 ; AR 83/2003 s1;103/2015;58/2023 Register categories 2 The regulated members register established by the Council under section 33(1)(a) of the Act has the following categories: (a) general register; (b) courtesy register. Registration General register education and exam requirements 3 (1) An applicant for registration as a regulated member on the general register must (a) have a degree of doctor of optometry from a program approved by the Council, (b) have successfully completed a registration examination approved by the Council, and (c) have successfully completed a jurisprudence examination approved by the Council. (2) An applicant under subsection (1) must have completed the requirements set out in this section within the 3 years immediately preceding the date of submitting a complete application or have been in active practice as an optometrist in the 3 years prior to the date of submitting a complete application for registration. (3) An applicant who does not meet the requirements of subsection (2) must successfully complete a refresher education program approved by the Council prior to being registered. Equivalent jurisdiction 4 A person currently registered in good standing in another jurisdiction recognized by the Council under section 28(2)(b) of the Act as having substantially equivalent registration requirements may be registered on the appropriate category of the regulated members register. Equivalent competence 5 (1) An applicant who does not meet the requirements under section 3 or 4 but whose qualifications have been determined by the Registrar to be substantially equivalent to the competence requirements set out in section 3 or 4 may be registered on the appropriate category of the regulated members register. (2) In determining whether or not an applicant’s qualifications are substantially equivalent under subsection (1), the Registrar may require the applicant to undergo an examination, testing and assessment activity to assist with the determination. (3) The Registrar may direct the applicant to undergo any education or training activities the Registrar may consider necessary in order for the applicant to be registered. Courtesy register applications 6 A person who is registered as an optometrist in good standing in another jurisdiction and who requires registration in Alberta on a temporary basis for a specified purpose approved by the Registrar and who satisfies the Registrar of the person’s competence to provide the services related to the specified purposes is eligible to be registered on the courtesy register for up to one year. Resuscitation certificate 7 All applicants for registration as regulated members must have successfully completed a course that provides the level of certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation approved by the Council”. AR 83/2003 s7;103/2015 8 to 9.1 Repealed AR 58/2023 s3. Titles and Abbreviations Authorization to use titles, etc. 10 (1) All regulated members may use (a) the titles (i) optometrist, and (ii) optometric contact lens practitioner, (b) the initials O.D., and (c) the word registered, in combination with the titles referred to in clause (a). (2) In connection with providing optometric health services all regulated members may use the title doctor and Dr. 11 Repealed AR 58/2023 s4. 12 Repealed AR 103/2015 s7. 13 and 14 Repealed AR 58/2023 s4 . 15 to 20 Repealed AR 58/2023 s5. Practice Permit Renewal Requirements Renewal requirements 21 In addition to meeting the requirements established under section 40 of the Act, a regulated member applying for renewal of the member’s practice permit must provide one or more of the following as requested by the Registrar or Registration Committee: (a) a photo ID of the member in the form required by the Registrar or Registration Committee; (b) evidence of being a Canadian citizen or being lawfully permitted to work in Canada; (c) evidence of English language proficiency. AR 83/2003 s21;103/2015;58/2023 22 to 25 Repealed AR 58/2023 s8. 26 to 29 Repealed AR 58/2023 s9. 30 to 32 Repealed AR 58/2023 s10. Transition Provisions, Repeal and Coming into Force Transitional provisions 33 On the coming into force of this Regulation, a person described in section 7(1) or (2) of Schedule 17 to the Act is deemed to be entered on the regulated member register in the register category that the Registrar considers appropriate. Repeal 34 The following Regulations are repealed: (a) Optometry Profession General Regulation (AR 388/85); (b) Optometry Profession Standards of Practice Regulation (AR 389/85). Coming into force 35 This Regulation comes into force on the coming into force of Schedule 17 to the Health Professions Act.