Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board (Fees) Notice 2026

This notice sets out the fees prescribed by the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board (“Board”) under section 130 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (“Act”), and the disciplinary levy set by the Board under section 131 of the Act.

Title and Commencement

This notice:

sets the updated schedule of fees and levies payable to the Board,
may be cited as the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board (Fees) Notice 2026,
shall come into force on 1 April 2026 ¹,
has the status of secondary legislation for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2019,
revokes and replaces all previously gazetted fees notices from the commencement date.

Schedule	Fees (in NZ$ including GST)²
Registration, re-registration, or restoration
Application for:
registration or re-registration in the Dispensing Optician, Provisional Optometrist, or Optometrist scopes of practice	$425.00
restoration of entry in the register, if received within 18 months of cancellation of entry (above scopes of practice)	$200.00
restoration of entry in the register, if received after 18 months of cancellation of entry (above scopes of practice)	$425.00
Additional scope of practice or change to existing scope
Application for additional scope(s) of practice or change(s) to existing scope(s) of practice	$250.00
Assessment of qualification equivalence
Application for assessment of equivalence of a qualification, under section 15(2) of the Act	$960.00
Practising certificates
For those wishing to practise in the Optometrist scope(s) of practice
Application ³ for a first practising certificate (PC/APC), if received within one month of the date the applicant was first granted registration (including a disciplinary levy of $37.00)	$950.00
In all other cases, application for:
a PC/APC (first or subsequent), received on or before 30 September ⁴ (including a disciplinary levy of $37.00)	$1,222.00
a PC/APC (first or subsequent), received after 30 September ⁵ (including a disciplinary levy of $25.00)	$966.00
For those wishing to practise in the Dispensing Optician scope of practice
Application ⁶ for a first PC/APC, if received within one month of the date the applicant was first granted registration (including a disciplinary levy of $25.00)	$650.00
In all other cases, application for:
a PC/APC (first or subsequent), received on or before 30 September⁷ (including a disciplinary levy of $25.00)	$915.00
a PC/APC (first or subsequent), received after 30 September⁸ (including a disciplinary levy of $13.00)	$667.00
Retention of entry in the register
Application for retention of an entry in the register with a non-practising status	$200.00
Requirements for return to practice
Application for assessment and monitoring of return to practice requirements. Payable where the applicant has not held a PC/APC or has not practised their profession in the three years immediately preceding the date of their application for a PC/APC⁹	$350.00
Competence assurance
Fees for establishing and monitoring compliance with competence or recertification programmes. Such fees cover one-off administrative tasks (e.g. review of information by the Professional Standards Committee and determination of requirements) and the ongoing monitoring of practitioners subject to these programmes (e.g. receipt, review, and feedback on supervision or other reports).	$500.00
Fees and costs payable by a practitioner subject to a condition in their scope of practice requiring practise under supervision or oversight. Such fees and costs relate to charges by Board-approved supervisors or mentors for sessions as well as related costs and expenses¹⁰ .	Full cost recovery
Certificates
Application for:
certificate of registration	$45.00
certificate of good standing	$45.00
copy of the register	$45.00
Accreditation of educational institutions or programmes
Accreditation/reaccreditation of an educational institution to provide 1 or more qualifications prescribed by the Board	An amount sufficient to reimburse the Board for all costs and expenses actually and reasonably incurred for the purpose of assessing and evaluating an educational institution/programme to determine whether it can be deemed (or continue to be deemed) a prescribed qualification under section 12 of the Act. Such costs and expenses may include, without limitation: professional fees for services of accreditation panel members travel, accommodation, and travel-related costs incurred by accreditation panel members in connection with site visits administration expenses for teleconference, meetings, printing, postage, and communication.

Note: Once in force, this notice replaces the notice New Zealand Gazette, 22 November 2024, Notice No. 2024-sl5996.

Dated at Wellington this 21st day of October 2025.

SUZANNE HALPIN, Chief Executive and Registrar, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board | Te Poari o ngā Kaimātai Whatu me ngā Kaiwhakarato Mōhiti.

Endnotes

1. Fees will apply to applications relating to the practising year commencing on 1 April 2026, and to all subsequent practising years, unless this notice is revoked. However, a fee of $479.00 will apply to applications for re-registration received prior to 1 April 2026. For those applications received on or after 1 April 2026, the fee stated in the Schedule above will apply.

2. All application fees are non-refundable, irrespective of the outcome of the application.

3. Applications must be complete, as set out in section 26(2) of the Act.

4. Where the application relates to a practising year 1 April to 31 March and is received on or before 30 September of that same practising year.

5. Where the application relates to a practising year 1 April to 31 March and is received after 30 September of that same practising year.

6. Refer to note 3.

7. Refer to note 4.

8. Refer to note 5.

9. This does not include the application fee for a PC.

10. Supervisors or mentors may invoice the practitioner directly; if invoiced to the Board, the Board will seek reimbursement from the practitioner.