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Renewal of Practising Certificate

FOR PRACTITIONERS WITH FULL REGISTRATION ONLY


Under the Optometrists and Opticians Act, practitioners with Full Registration are required to renew their practising certificates (PC) upon expiry to continue practise of optometry and/or opticianry.

With effect from 1 October 2017, reminder for PC Renewal for the month of October will only be sent via email. Hence, please ensure you have provided a valid email address to the Board.

A. Submission of Application for PC Renewal


1.    Practitioners are required to renew their PC if they wish to continue practising (full-time or part-time) in the profession. Fees for each category as follows:
Category Fees    Duration* 

Optometrist

$300  

2 Years

Optician (Contact Lens Practice)

$280  

2 Years

Optician (Refraction and Dispensing)

$280  

2 Years

Optician (Dispensing)

$200  

2 Years

*For late or lapsed PC renewal, the validity period of PC issued will be less than 24 months (for a two-year PC), to coincide with the expiry date on 31 December.

2.    Practitioners are reminded to submit an application online for PC renewal via Professional Registration System (PRS) at least 30 days before current PC expires. A late application fee of $50 would be imposed if application is received later than 30 days; and $100 after expiry of PC.

3.    Practitioners may pay for the renewal fee by Credit/Debit Card.

4.    With effective from 15 January 2017, you are required to log in to PRS via Singpass only.

5.    Practitioners who are holding a valid work permit but not eligible for Singpass, please contact the Board's secretariat if you are unable to log in PRS. 

6.     As part of application requirement, please submit a passport-sized, digital, colour photograph and preferably with no white attire taken within the last 3 months.

7.     Please note that under section 13(4) of the Optometrists and Opticians Act, all registered optometrists and opticians, whether practising full-time or part-time, must inform the Board of any change in his name, residential address, practice address or other particulars as may be prescribed, within 28 days of the occurrence of the change. Application of change can be submitted via the PRS prior application for PC Renewal. Please refer to details here on for updating of particulars.

8.     You are reminded to be prudent and truthful when applying for registration with the Board. Any false statements will lead to your application being rejected or to the annulment of a registration already granted and may also render yourself liable to prosecution under the Optometrists and Optician Act which deals with the application.

B. CPE Qualifying Period


1.    For PC Renewal in 2020, your new Qualifying Period (QP) for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) will start from 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2022. The targeted CPE points for Opticians is 40 and for Optometrists, 50. Please refer to this link for a copy of the CPE guidelines. 

2.    You are expected to participate in CPE to ensure that your optometry and opticianry knowledge and skills remain current and relevant, and to maintain a reasonable level of competence. Failure to achieve the necessary CPE points as determined by the Board could amount to professional misconduct and make you liable for disciplinary action by the Board.

C. Inactive Practice


1.    If you are not actively practicing, you may consider not to renew your PC. If you wish to return to practice subsequently, you may apply for renewal with a late application fee.

2. With effect from 01/08/2020, for practitioners whose practising certificates have lapsed and who wish to return to practise, are now required to obtain the requisite CPE points in the 24 months preceding their application for practising certificate (PC) with the Board.  

3.    The Board may cancel registration of a practitioner who did not renew his PC for a continuous period of 5 years and have no address in Singapore where he can be found.

D. Outcome of Application


1.      The Board will take approximately 3-4 weeks to process an application. Longer processing time may be taken for adverse application or during peak period.

2.      Upon approval of your application, you will be receiving an email notification from the Board. New PC will be posted to the mailing address indicated in the application for renewal. 

3.      Any unclaimed PC would have to be collected in person from the Board’s secretariat.  

E. Reminder on Unlawful Practice


Please also be reminded that under Section 25 of the Optometrists and Opticians Act, you shall NOT carry out any practice of Optometry or Opticianry unless you are a qualified person duly registered with the Board and hold a valid registration and practising certificate.