Reinstatement

Reinstatement is the process of returning to practice following a suspension of licensure.

 

Suspension occurs when a registrant fails to maintain the requirements of registration (e.g., by failing to renew their licence during the annual renewal period, or by failing to complete their Continuing Competency Program by their cycle end date). Before being suspended, a registrant will always receive at least 14 days’ notice.

 

 

Within three years of the date of suspension, a former registrant may apply for reinstatement by:

If more than three years have passed since the date of suspension, a former registrant must go through an additional assessment process to determine whether their skills and knowledge still meet the entry-to-practice standards for BC opticians. The assessment can be completed online with the virtual supervision of a member of the COBC team. The cost of the assessment depends on the applicant’s licence designation; updated fees can be found here.

 

The results of the assessment will be used to determine the appropriate next steps for the applicant’s return to practice. They may be eligible to return to practice immediately, or they may need to complete additional coursework to address competency gaps identified in the assessment process.

 

Once the assessment process (including any applicable coursework) is complete, the former registrant may apply for reinstatement by:

• Submitting a reinstatement application
• Paying the applicable fees (including a reinstatement fee and the licensing fee for the current year)
• Submitting to a new criminal record check, if their previous check has expired