Why do I need a Criminal Record Check?

The Criminal Records Review Act ensures that people who work with or may potentially have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults undergo a criminal record check by the Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP). This includes all registrants of the College of Opticians of British Columbia (COBC), as well as other health professionals, and is required every five years.

If you have been contacted to complete a Criminal Record Re-Check this year, you will need to complete the application process through the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. Please note that a police or RCMP check is not an acceptable substitute. 


How to complete a Criminal Record Check
  • To complete the online application, please follow the link here to go directly to the Ministry of Public Safety website where you can complete the necessary steps electronically.
  • You must enter our Access Code DG5TSET57V and choose Request a New Criminal Record Check to begin the process. Please refer to the step-by-step "Walk-through Guide" provided by the Ministry of Public Safety; you can call the Ministry of Public Safety toll free at 1-855-587-0185 ext. 2 with any questions.
  • If you have recently completed a Criminal Record Check within the last five years, please click here for information about how to share those results. 

The online system cannot verify me, what now?
  1. If you try and cannot complete the Criminal Record Check online, or the system has failed to verify your identity electronically, you will need to complete the form provided by the online system (the "ID Verification Form"). 
  2. Complete the form by signing the field labeled "Applicant Signature".
  3. Take two pieces of ID to a notary public, and have them verified and notarized OR make an appointment to attend the College office for ID verification.Acceptable types of ID can be found here.
  4. Send in the form and your notarized ID to the College by mail (900-200 Granville Street, Vancouver BC V6C1S4) or email (reception@cobc.ca)
  5. The College will complete the form and forward it to the Ministry of Public Safety on your behalf.
Unfortunately, we cannot accept the ID via fax as it renders the images ineligible. 


What if I can't complete the criminal record check online?

If you cannot complete the application online, please contact the College office to obtain a manual application form.


Please note: If you have recently submitted an application for a Criminal Record Check and you have received a letter from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Criminal Records Review office, please follow the instructions in the letter provided. If it advises that you have been selected for fingerprinting, you can find more information on that process here. Your application cannot be completed until you finish all parts of the process. Any questions about additional steps can be directed to the Ministry at 1-855-587-0185 ext. 2.
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