Introduction

1. The Optometrists and Opticians Act will be promulgated to regulate the practice of optometry and opticianry in Singapore The primary objective of the legislation is to ensure safe standards of optometry and opticianry services for the public Bearing in mind the primary objective, the following are also considered when preparing the legislation: Market reality of primary eye care – how the public uses the services Livelihood of existing opticians and optometrists Cost of primary eye care Introduction

2. All optometrists and opticians are to be registered with the Optometrists and Opticians Board (OOB) Different categories of registration for optometrists and opticians will be formed, with different conditions and restrictions attached to such categories based on the experience and qualifications of the practitioner. An Optometrists and Opticians Board will be established and charged with the responsibility for ensuring high standards of practice and professional conduct of all optometrists and opticians. Impact of legislation – an overview

3. The practice of optometry or opticianry by any person who is unregistered, or who does not have a practising certificate, will be prohibited under the new legislation. It will be an offence to employ unqualified persons to carry out a practice of optometry or opticianry. All optometrists and opticians will be expected to undergo compulsory continuing professional education Impact of legislation – an overview (cont’d)

4. To approve or reject applications for registration under the Act To accredit courses in the practice of optometry and opticianry in Singapore To issue guidelines on the standards for the practice of optometry and opticianry To make recommendations for the training and education of optometrists and opticians To determine and regulate the professional and ethical conduct of optometrists and opticians Functions of the Optometrists and Opticians Board

5. Optometrists with approved optometry qualifications and at least 1 year practical experience in optometry (before 1 Jan 2008) will be eligible for full registration as an Optometrist. Optometrists with approved optometry qualifications and less than 1 year practical experience in optometry will be eligible for provisional registration as an Optometrists. IMPORTANT NOTE Most if not all optometrists are currently licensed contact lens practitioners. These optometrists will be eligible to apply for provisional or full registration as optometrists There may be a handful of optometrists who are not contact lens practitioners, mainly because they have non-approved optometry qualifications (not recognised under current CLP Act). These optometrists may be registered as optometrists/opticians, subject to other criteria to be set by OOB. Optometrist Registration(Grandfathering)

6. Optometrist Registration (From 1 Jan 2008) At least 1 year of experience? Approved local/foreign optometryqualifications? Application for registration Yes Yes Fully registered Optometrist No No Non-approved foreign optometry qualification? No Provisionally registered Optometrist Yes With at least 1 year of approved practical experience? Yes Conditional registration subject to approval by Optometrists & Opticians Board No Conditionally registered optometrist (up to max of 4 years) Yes Conditional registration granted? Reject application for Optometrist registration No

7. Licensed Contact Lens Practitioner Fully-registered Optician Optometrist and Optician Registration for Licensed Contact Lens Practitioners (CLPs) All licensed CLPs will be deemed Fully-Registered Opticians under the Optometrists & Opticians Act. • IMPORTANT NOTE: • Licensed CLPs who possess optometry qualifications can apply to register as optometrists, as shown previously. • Licensed CLPs who do not possess optometry qualifications may convert to optometrists via competency test or conversion course (see next slide) • Licensed CLPs who are fully-registered opticians can continue to engage in contact lens practice.

8. Licensed Contact Lens Practitioners (Grandfathering) Licensed Contact Lens Practitioner At least 1 year optometry practice experience? Approved local/foreign optometry qualification? Fully-registered Optician apply for registration as Optometrist Yes Yes Fully-registered optometrist No No At least 5 years experience? Take optometry competency test Yes Provisionally registered optometrist No Pass optometry competency test within 2 tries? Undergo a 2-year modular Conversion Course in Optometry (CCOp) No Yes No Successfully complete course? Yes For grandfathering only.

9. Opticians with 2 years or more opticianry experience as at 1 Jan 2008 will be eligible for conditional registration as an optician. 5 years or more experience - pass a competency test within 2 tries to convert to full registration 2 to 5 years experience - undergo a 2 year modular Upgrading Programme in Opticianry to convert to full registration. Opticians who are licensed CLPs As previously described IMPORTANT NOTE: An optician can be Conditionally Registered only up to 4 years. Opticians with less than 2 years practical experience will be regarded as new entrants and required to complete the ACOPOD+R to be eligible for registration as an optician. Optician Registration(Grandfathering)

10. Optician Registration (Grandfathering) Opticians with at least 2 years practical experience in opticianry as at 1 Jan 2008 IMPORTANT NOTE: 1. Currently practising Opticians who do not wish to take competency test or undergo modular upgrading programme will be granted conditional registration for up to 4 years. Thereafter, he will no longer be eligible for registration as an optician unless he completes the ACOPOD+R. Conditionally registered Optician Pass opticianry competency test within 2 tries? At least 5 years of experience? Yes Yes Fully registered optician No Yes No Successfully complete course? Undergo a 2 year modular Upgrading Programme in Opticianry No Remain conditionally registered for up to 4 years

11. Opticians who do not wish to do refraction will still go through the same grandfathering route except that the competency test /upgrading programme will not include refraction. These opticians will be registered as dispensing-only opticians Hence, there will be three groups of opticians to be registered Opticians with Refraction, Dispensing and Contact Lens Practice privileges (will close once all CLP opticians are registered) Opticians with Refraction and Dispensing privileges Opticians with Dispensing-only privilege Registration of Opticians

12. Opticians Registration (From 1 Jan 2008) Approved local/foreign opticianry qualifications? At least 2 years experience? Application for Registration Yes Yes • Fully registered optician • R + D • D only No No Non-approved foreign opticianry qualification? Provisionally registered Optician No . Yes At least 1 year of approved practical experience? Conditional registration subject to approval by Optometrists and Opticians Board Yes No Conditional registration granted? Conditionally registered optician (up to max of 4 years) Reject application for Optician registration No Yes

13. Conditionally and Provisionally Registered Practitioners • Conditionally/provisionally registered practitioners must work under close, on-site supervision