Revised registration standards published today

31 Jul 2019

The Optometry Board of Australia (the Board), along with four other National Boards, has today published its revised continuing professional development (CPD) registration standard¹ which will start on 1 December 2020 and replace the existing standard.

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Health Council approved the revised standard on 30 June 2019.

‘After extensive consultation with the profession, the Board agreed to change the CPD assessment from a points system to one based on hours,’ Optometry Board of Australia Chair Ian Bluntish said.

‘To give optometrists time to familiarise themselves with the changes to the revised registration standard, it will not take effect until 1 December 2020.’

The revised standard will apply to applicants for renewal. CPD requirements apply after practitioners have become registered so applicants for initial registration will need to meet the standard the first time they renew their registration².

The standards were revised after a joint scheduled review, which included public consultation. National Boards today published consultation reports providing a summary of the consultation processes, rationale for any changes and proposed way forward, including areas where further work is planned.

The revised standards are being rolled out to align as much as possible with the renewal cycles for each profession to allow preparation time where there are changes from the existing standards. Please visit AHPRA’s Registration standards page for additional information and resources.

Resources about the revised standards

The following resources about the revised standard are available on the Registration standards page.

• letter of approval
• continuing professional development registration standard consultation report
• common FAQ.