Licence Renewal Information

The Saskatchewan College of Opticians licence year runs from April 1st to March 31st. Registrants are required to renew their licence annually.

SCO members can now renew your licence online. Go to Members Login and then Member Hub. Each member has been issued UserID and Password at initial registration. You will need this information to renew your licence online, as well as use the other login features such as checking your continuing education credits. Please contact the SCO office if you have lost your User ID and Password.

Step By Step Guide to Online Licence Renewals

Members are encouraged to renew their licence online. We can now accept Visa, MasterCard and Visa Debit when you renew online. Your private information and credit card number will be safe and secure in our system. No credit card information is ever stored, tracked or viewed. Personal information is kept in a secure, internal, password-protected database, which is not stored online.

RENEWING FOR:

• Practicing Licence
• Non-Practicing Licence
• Restricted Licence

Practicing Licence

APPLICATION FORM

Members must fill out the Annual Optician Licence &/ Contact Lens Practitioner Licence application upon renewal. This form must be filled out accurately and correctly before submission. The SCO will not process your licence if the form is not included with the other documents or information is invalid upon renewal.

PROOF OF INSURANCE

SCO reminds all practicing registrants to submit proof of their professional liability insurance. This MUST be a certificate of insurance or a letter issued by the insurance broker. Policies must be sent directly to SCO by the registrant, the employer or the insurance broker. The policy must contain:

1. Name of the Insurer
2. Registrant’s name
3. Expiration date of the policy
4. Insurance professional liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS

All licensed members with the SCO are required to complete the continuing education requirements set out in the Regulations.

Each year at licence renewal, we take into consideration the credits you have accumulated over the previous three years.

Non-Practicing Licence

Non-Practicing members of the Saskatchewan College of Opticians agree not to actively perform opticianry duties in the Province of Saskatchewan. Performing such duties in Saskatchewan while registered as non-practicing is considered ‘dispensing without a licence’, and will be subject to the appropriate disciplinary actions of the Saskatchewan College of Opticians.

Members that become non-practicing are now required by the regulations to have their status reviewed after three years of being non-practicing. Members should also keep their educational credits up to date to ensure an easier transition to active practice.

On or around the non-practicing members three year anniversary, the non-practicing member will be required to advise the college whether or not they will be returning to active practice. Those members that wish to continue as non-practicing members will be required to provide the college with an approximate date they will be returning to active practice. As part of the review, the Registrar will review whether or not the member has been keeping current with their continuing education credits to assist their return to practice.

An extension of a member’s non-practicing status is not automatic and an extension if any will be determined by the Council based on the results of the review process. The Council after its review, may at its discretion if it feels it is warranted, extend the non-practicing members licence for a further period not to exceed three years. At the end of each extension, the Registrar will once again review the members status to determine whether or not the member should be removed from the non-practicing list or whether there may be extenuating circumstance to allow the council to grant a further extension.

Policy on 3-year review for non-practicing members

RE-LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

Members, who have not practiced for a period of up to three years, can be relicensed as a practicing member upon paying the required fees, submitting proof of insurance & meeting the continuing education requirements.

Members that have been non-practicing for a period over three years but not in excess of five years, and have kept their education requirements up to date will be required to work under the supervision of a practicing member for a period to be determined by the Registrar, and upon completion of that period and recommendation of the supervisor, be issued a licence to practice.

Members that have been non-practicing for a period exceeding five years, and has kept their continuing education requirements up to date, will be required to complete hands-on re-training under the supervision of a practicing member for a period to be determined by the Registrar and upon completion, successfully complete the college re-entry exam.

Members that leave the profession for a period of in excess of three years, and that have not retained their status, regardless of whether their continuing educational credits are up to date may at the discretion of the council, complete the PLAR and challenge the NACOR licensing exam.

Restricted Licence

Members with a restricted licence must fill out the Annual Restricted Optician Licence &/or Contact Lens Practitioner Licence application upon renewal. This form must be filled out accurately and correctly before submission. The SCO will not process your licence if the form is not included with the other documents or information is invalid upon renewal.

Members with a restricted licence must submit proof of insurance and have their continuing education credits up to date. Please refer to the above professional liability and continuing education requirements for a practicing licence, for a restricted licence requirements.