Pursuant to sections 11 and 12 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 ("the Act"), the following notice
is given.
N o t i c e
1. Title and commencement-(1) Notice of Scopes of Practice and Related Qualifications Prescribed by the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board.
(2) This notice comes into force on 17 May 2012.
2. Revocation-This notice revokes and replaces all previous scopes of practice and qualifications prescribed by the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board.
Scopes of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians as at 17 May 2012
1. Scope of Practice for Optometrists
2. Scope of Practice for Optometrists (TPA Endorsement)
3. Scope of Practice for Educator in Optometry
4. Scope of Practice for Educator in Optometry (TPA Endorsement)
5. Scope of Practice for Optical Dispensing
1. Scope of Practice for Optometrists
The practice of optometry provides evidence-based comprehensive eye health and vision care in a professional and ethical manner, delivered by university-qualified optometrists.
Prescribed Qualifications for Registration in the Scope of Practice for Optometrists
Pathway (a) or (b) may be taken.
Pathway (a): The applicant holds an undergraduate qualification or proof of eligibility to graduate from an institution accredited by the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ) and endorsed by the board. This includes:
- BOptom University of Auckland; or
- BOptom University of Melbourne; or
- BOptom University of New South Wales; or
- BApplSc (Optometry) Queensland University of Technology.
Pathway (b): The applicant has a pass in the current OCANZ Competency in Optometry Examination.
2. Scope of Practice for Optometrists (TPA Endorsement)
The practice of optometry (TPA endorsement) provides evidence based comprehensive eye health and vision care in a professional and ethical manner, delivered by university-qualified optometrists.
Prescribed Qualifications for Registration in the Scope of Practice for Optometrists (TPA Endorsement)
The applicant is qualified for the scope of practice for optometry and holds:
- a written acknowledgement from the University of Auckland Faculty of Science that the applicant has successfully completed the three Postgraduate Diploma in Science courses, OPTOM 781 Principles of Ocular Diseases, OPTOM 784 Ocular Disorders and their Management, and OPTOM 787 Clinical Ocular Therapeutics; or
- a Certificate in Ocular Pharmacology, University of Auckland and a written acknowledgement from the University of Auckland Faculty of Science that the applicant has successfully completed all the requirements of the Auckland programme in ocular therapeutics (TAPIOT) conferred between 2004 and 2008; or
- a BOptom, University of Auckland conferred in 2007 and thereafter; or
- a pass in the Assessment of Competence in Ocular Therapeutics (ACOT) administered by the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ); or
- a pass in a therapeutics programme accredited by OCANZ and endorsed by the board; or
- a pass in a therapeutics programme accredited by the board.
3. Scope of Practice for Educator in Optometry
The scope of practice for an educator in optometry refers to the scope of practice for optometry, practised within an educational institution.
Prescribed Qualifications for Registration in the Scope of Practice for Educator in Optometry
(a) The applicant holds a qualification referred to in the scope of practice for optometry; or
(b) the applicant holds a qualification referred to in the scope of practice for optometry (TPA endorsement); or
(c) the applicant holds BApplSc (Optometry) or BSc (Optometry) from the University of Melbourne; or
(d) the applicant holds a listed (non bridging) qualification from one of the schools of optometry in the United Kingdom listed below:
- BSc/BSc Hons in Optometry; or BSc/BSc Hons in Ophthalmic Optics, University of Aston; or
- BSc/BSc Hons in Optometry (Ophthalmic Optics); or BSc/BSc Hons in Ophthalmic Optics, University of Bradford; or
- BSc/BSc Hons in Optometry, Cardiff University; or BSc/BSc Hons in Optometry; or
- BSc/BSc Hons in Ophthalmic Optics, University of Wales College of Cardiff; or
- BSc/BSc Hons in Optometry, or BSc/BSc Hons in Ophthalmic Optics, The City University London; or
- BSc/BSc Hons in Optometry, or BSc/BSc Hons in Ophthalmic Optics, Glasgow Caledonian University; or
- BSc/BSc Hons in Optometry, or BSc/BSc Hons in Ophthalmic Optics, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology; or
- BOptom, Anglia Polytechnic University; or
- BSc/BSc Hons in Optometry, University of Ulster; or
- BSc/BSc Hons in Ophthalmic Optics, University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology; and
(e) the applicant has passed the Pre-registration year and Professional Qualifying Examination conducted by the College
of Optometry or its equivalent within a four-year degree; or
(f) the applicant holds a Doctor of Optometry qualification from one of the schools of optometry in the United States of America and Canada listed below:
- Illinois College of Optometry
- Indiana University
- Inter American University of Puerto Rico
- Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University
- New England College of Optometry
- Northeastern State University
- Nova Southeastern University
- The Ohio State University
- Pacific University
- Pennsylvania College of Optometry
- Southern California College of Optometry
- Southern College of Optometry
- State University of New York
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of Missouri, St. Louis
- University of Houston
- University of Waterloo; or
(g) the applicant holds a Doctorat en Optométrie qualification from the University of Montreal; or
(h) the applicant holds a BSc Hons (Optometry) from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
4. Scope of Practice for Educator in Optometry (TPA Endorsement)
The scope of practice for an educator in optometry (TPA endorsement) refers to the scope of practice for optometry with
TPA endorsement, practised within an educational institution.
Prescribed Qualifications for Registration in the Scope of Practice for Educator in Optometry (TPA Endorsement)
The applicant holds a qualification for the scope of practice for an educator in optometry, and holds evidence of a TPA endorsement.
5. Scope of Practice for Optical Dispensing
Optical dispensing describes the practice of the interpreting and dispensing of optical prescriptions by a person with a recognised qualification. This includes the giving of advice and instruction in the dispensing of spectacle lenses, spectacle frames (including their fitting), contact lenses, and any other optical device intended for correction of a defect of sight.
Prescribed Qualifications for Registration in the Scope of Practice for Optical Dispensing
(a) The applicant holds the qualification Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing, awarded by the New South Wales Technical
and Further Education Commission, or proof of eligibility to graduate from this course, and has submitted a completed and signed record of training book showing evidence of the completion of a minimum of 800 hours of practical experience as specified in the record of training book, within two years of qualification or a period otherwise approved by the board; or
(b) the applicant holds the qualification Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing (conferred on or after 31 May 2009), awarded by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, or proof of eligibility to graduate from this course, has completed the "Perform Edge and Fit" (HLT0PD402A) module as part of the qualification, and has submitted a completed and signed record of training book showing evidence of the completion of a minimum of 800 hours of practical experience as specified in the record of training book, within two years of qualification or a period otherwise approved by the board; or
(c) the applicant holds the qualification FBDO (UK); or
(d) the applicant has passed an optical dispensing examination approved by the board.
Dated at Wellington this 15th day of May 2012.
LINDSEY RILEY, Registrar, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board.