Media release

20 Nov 2013

The National Board is reminding optometrists to renew registration by 30 November.

Optometrists reminded to renew registration on time

Optometrists due to renew their registration with the Optometry Board of Australia (the National Board) have less than two weeks for timely renewal.

More than 4,500 optometrists with general or non-practising registration are due to renew by 30 November.

National Board Chair Colin Waldron said more than 65 per cent of practitioners had already renewed their registration, the majority doing so online.

‘It’s great to see optometrists heeding the call to renew online and on time,’ he said.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), on behalf of the National Board, is sending optometrists a series of email and hard copy reminders to renew.

‘Anyone who may not have received a reminder to renew should contact AHPRA’s Customer Service Team on 1300 419 495 to check that their registered contact details are up to date,’ Mr Waldron said.

As outlined in the National Law¹, renewal applications received after the registration expiry date will incur a late payment fee in addition to the annual renewal fee.

‘I urge all optometrists who have not yet renewed their registration to act now by using AHPRA’s secure online service for renewal,’ Mr Waldron said.

Optometrists, whose application is received on time or during the following one month late period, can continue practising while their application is processed.

Practitioners who do not apply to renew their registration by 31 December 2013 will have lapsed registration. They will be removed from the national register of practitioners and will not be able to practise optometry in Australia.

The following pages on the National Board website contain useful information for optometrists: 

• Registration renewal
• Registration standards
• FAQ on renewal

For more information

• Lodge an online enquiry form
• For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 3 8708 9001 (overseas callers)
• For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200

Download a PDF of this Media release - Optometrists reminded to renew registration on time - 20 November 2013 (210 KB,PDF)

¹The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory (the National Law).