Do I need to do CPD?
Optometrists Association Victoria supports the Optometry Board of Australia's requirement that all registered optometrists participate in CPD activities. This means you need CPD points if you are practicing at all, even if just occasionally, or for only a few hours per week. You may also need to do CPD if your work entails the use of your optometry qualification more generally, e.g. as a teacher, researcher or policy worker. As a rule of thumb: If you see patients, or use your qualification in your daily work, you need to do CPD. Student registrants do not need CPD, and Immediate Graduates do not need to do CPD in the first 12 months following graduation.
CPD is now a mandatory requirement for all registered optometrists.
How many points do I need?
The Optometry Board of Australia you to do CPD activities worth a total of 40 points each registration year, including 12 points earned in face-to-face activities.
You will be asked at the end of each registration year, when you re-register, to declare you have either earned 40 points in that registration year, or have a plan to earn a total of 80 points by the end of the coming registration year.
If you are therapeutically-endorsed, you must earn 20 points of this in areas relevant to this endorsement.
There may be sanctions if you do not meet this registration requirement without acceptable reason.
How will the Optometry Board know how many points I have earned?
You will need to collect and maintain evidence and records of the CPD you have completed, and declare that you are compliant each year when you re-register.
As a member of OAA, we will continue to record and collect points on your behalf, for all activities which are accredited prior to the activity (e.g. OAA conferences or events or other activities pre-advertised with CPD points).
You should retain all your records of CPD activities for a period of three years, to ensure they are available if required by a Board audit.
What will happen if I don't meet the standard?
If you are unable to make a declaration that you have met the standard, the Board has the authority place conditions on your registration, or refuse to renew it. The outcome will depend on the circumstances, and whether or not you have a reason which is acceptable to the Board.
Knowingly making a false declaration to the Board, ie., falsely declaring your compliance, will be treated as a professional misconduct matter. Sanctions may include caution or reprimand, or cancellation or suspension of registration.
Are there any exemptions?
If you are temporarily absent from the practice of optometry, e.g. due to maternity leave or illness, for up to one year, you may be eligible for an exemption for a total of 40 points. If you are absent from practice for between one and three years, you will need to complete a minimum of one year, or 40 points, of CPD prior to recommencing practice.
Absence of more than three years is not considered temporary, and in this case, you should consult the Optometry Board of Australia about their guidelines relating to Recency of Practice.
How can I earn points?
Accredited activities
The OAA wants to make CPD as accessible and relevant to members as possible, and help members acheive their points through high quality education.
There is a range of ways you can earn CPD points, and we are always working to increase the opportunities. The OAA is among the approved providers of CPD, which means OAA CPD activities are among those accredited in advance and able to be advertised with the number of points awarded for completing the activity, including therapeutics points.
Kinds of formats for CPD can include:
-
full conferences, like the Southern Regional Congress held each year in Victoria, or conferences in other states;
-
lectures or seminars;
-
courses, e.g. weekend courses/meetings, or comprehensive formal study such as graduate studies in clinical optometry or therapeutics;
-
online CPD and remote learning (note that this may not comprise your total CPD points).
Non-accredited activities
If you choose to include in your CPD program activities that are not accredited, your activities must include a balance of practice-based reflective elements such as clinical audit, peer review or performance appraisal, as well as participation in activities to enhance knowledge, such as courses, conferences and online learning. It will be up to the Board to determine whether these activities are deemed acceptable CPD. You should refer to the Board Guidelines to ensure the activities you are counting towards your compliance meet the criteria for CPD-eligible activities, and keep careful written records and evidence of what you have undertaken.
Do I need to do CPD?
Optometrists Association Victoria supports the Optometry Board of Australia's requirement that all registered optometrists participate in CPD activities. This means you need CPD points if you are practicing at all, even if just occasionally, or for only a few hours per week. You may also need to do CPD if your work entails the use of your optometry qualification more generally, e.g. as a teacher, researcher or policy worker. As a rule of thumb: If you see patients, or use your qualification in your daily work, you need to do CPD. Student registrants do not need CPD, and Immediate Graduates do not need to do CPD in the first 12 months following graduation.
CPD is now a mandatory requirement for all registered optometrists.
How many points do I need?
The Optometry Board of Australia you to do CPD activities worth a total of 40 points each registration year, including 12 points earned in face-to-face activities.
You will be asked at the end of each registration year, when you re-register, to declare you have either earned 40 points in that registration year, or have a plan to earn a total of 80 points by the end of the coming registration year.
If you are therapeutically-endorsed, you must earn 20 points of this in areas relevant to this endorsement.
There may be sanctions if you do not meet this registration requirement without acceptable reason.
How will the Optometry Board know how many points I have earned?
You will need to collect and maintain evidence and records of the CPD you have completed, and declare that you are compliant each year when you re-register.
As a member of OAA, we will continue to record and collect points on your behalf, for all activities which are accredited prior to the activity (e.g. OAA conferences or events or other activities pre-advertised with CPD points).
You should retain all your records of CPD activities for a period of three years, to ensure they are available if required by a Board audit.
What will happen if I don't meet the standard?
If you are unable to make a declaration that you have met the standard, the Board has the authority place conditions on your registration, or refuse to renew it. The outcome will depend on the circumstances, and whether or not you have a reason which is acceptable to the Board.
Knowingly making a false declaration to the Board, ie., falsely declaring your compliance, will be treated as a professional misconduct matter. Sanctions may include caution or reprimand, or cancellation or suspension of registration.
Are there any exemptions?
If you are temporarily absent from the practice of optometry, e.g. due to maternity leave or illness, for up to one year, you may be eligible for an exemption for a total of 40 points. If you are absent from practice for between one and three years, you will need to complete a minimum of one year, or 40 points, of CPD prior to recommencing practice.
Absence of more than three years is not considered temporary, and in this case, you should consult the Optometry Board of Australia about their guidelines relating to Recency of Practice.
How can I earn points?
Accredited activities
The OAA wants to make CPD as accessible and relevant to members as possible, and help members acheive their points through high quality education.
There is a range of ways you can earn CPD points, and we are always working to increase the opportunities. The OAA is among the approved providers of CPD, which means OAA CPD activities are among those accredited in advance and able to be advertised with the number of points awarded for completing the activity, including therapeutics points.
Kinds of formats for CPD can include:
-
full conferences, like the Southern Regional Congress held each year in Victoria, or conferences in other states;
-
lectures or seminars;
-
courses, e.g. weekend courses/meetings, or comprehensive formal study such as graduate studies in clinical optometry or therapeutics;
-
online CPD and remote learning (note that this may not comprise your total CPD points).
Non-accredited activities
If you choose to include in your CPD program activities that are not accredited, your activities must include a balance of practice-based reflective elements such as clinical audit, peer review or performance appraisal, as well as participation in activities to enhance knowledge, such as courses, conferences and online learning. It will be up to the Board to determine whether these activities are deemed acceptable CPD. You should refer to the Board Guidelines to ensure the activities you are counting towards your compliance meet the criteria for CPD-eligible activities, and keep careful written records and evidence of what you have undertaken.