Registration

Overview

Optometrists must be registered with the Optometry Board of Australia (the Board) and meet its registration standards in order to practise in Australia.

Please refer to the registration section of the Ahpra website for further information on the registration process, and information for overseas qualified practitioners is on the Board website.

The Board provided guidance on when it is necessary to be registered as an optometrist.

Obligations of a registered optometrist

Under the National Law, optometrists have obligations they must meet in order to be registered and while practising. This infographic shows the obligations of a registered optometrist.

Frequently asked questions about the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme are available on the Ahpra website.

Optometry Board of Australia National Registration and Accreditation Scheme infographic

Obligations of a registered optometrist - Word version (150 KB,DOCX)

Registration Types

The optometry registration types are:

general registration
limited registration:
- postgraduate training or supervised practice (requirements pending)
- teaching or research (see Forms)
non-practising registration
graduate registration

Endorsements

Endorsement of registration identifies practitioners with additional qualifications and specific expertise. Further information on the Endorsement for scheduled medicines is found on the Board website.

Who is Ahpra?

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) supports the 15 National Boards in their role of protecting the public and setting standards and policies that all registered health practitioners must meet.

Ahpra and the National Boards work together to register and renew health practitioners and, where required, investigate complaints or concerns regarding health practitioners.

Ahpra's operations are governed by the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law which came into effect on 1 July 2010. This law applies in each Australian state and territory, and is sometimes referred to on our sites as ‘the National Law’.

All health practitioners registered to practise are included on the national register of practitioners which is managed by Ahpra.

Find out more about Ahpra.