PART II | REGISTRATION OF OPTOMETRISTS AND OPTICIANS |
3.—(1) The Board may appoint a committee, to be known as the Credentials Committee, to assist the Board in dealing with applications for registration as an optometrist or an optician.| (2) The Credentials Committee shall consist of at least one member of the Board and such number of other persons as the Board may determine. |
| (3) The Board shall appoint a member of the Credentials Committee as the Chairman of the Committee. |
| (4) The term of office of the members and the quorum of the Credentials Committee shall be determined by the Board. |
(5) The Board may refer to the Credentials Committee any application for registration and the Committee shall consider such application and recommend to the Board whether —| (a) | the applicant should be granted full, conditional or provisional registration, as the case may be; | | (b) | the application should be refused; | | (c) | the applicant should be required to sit for and pass a qualifying examination before being granted any type of registration; or | | (d) | the applicant should be required to undergo further training at an institution or establishment approved by the Board before being granted any type of registration. |
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(6) For the purpose of making a recommendation under paragraph (5), the Credentials Committee may —| (a) | interview the applicant; | | (b) | make inquiries relating to the applicant’s qualifications and practical experience as the Committee thinks necessary; and | | (c) | take such other action as the Committee considers necessary. |
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(7) Upon considering the recommendation of the Credentials Committee, the Board may —| (a) | accept the recommendation of the Committee; or | | (b) | refer the matter back to the Committee for further consideration. |
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| Application for registration |
4.—(1) An application for registration as an optometrist or an optician under section 15(1) of the Act shall be made in such form as the Board may require.(2) The application form shall be submitted by the applicant to the Registrar and shall be accompanied by the following:| (a) | a certified true copy of the relevant certificate, diploma or degree; | | (b) | where applicable, details in writing of the applicant’s practical experience in optometry or opticianry, including details of the nature, duration and extent of the experience in such form as the Board may require; | | (c) | where the applicant is required to sit for a qualifying examination, a certified true copy of the certificate issued by an Accreditation and Examinations Committee or any institution of higher learning authorised by the Board under section 30(2) of the Act certifying that the applicant has passed such examination; | | (d) | where the applicant is registered to carry out optometry or opticianry in a foreign country —| (i) | a certified true copy of the certificate of registration of the applicant in that foreign country; and | | (ii) | where applicable, a certificate of good standing from the registration body of a country where the applicant has been registered stating that on the date of issue the applicant is registered as an optometrist or an optician in that country and that no proceedings have been taken or are pending against him; |
| | (e) | a recent passport size photograph of the applicant; | | (f) | the appropriate fee specified in the Third Schedule; and | | (g) | such other documents (including any statutory declaration) and information as the Board may require. |
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| (3) Any document referred to in paragraph (2) which is not in English shall be accompanied by a certified translation thereof in English. |
| (4) The Registrar may require the applicant to produce such proof of identity as he thinks fit. |
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| Fee payable for registration |
5.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), every person registered as an optometrist or an optician shall pay the appropriate registration fee specified in the Third Schedule.| (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) and regulation 4(2)(f), the Board may waive in whole or in part any fee specified in the Third Schedule as it thinks fit. |
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| Full registration as optometrist |
6.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the following persons may be granted full registration as an optometrist:| (a) | a person who —| (i) | has obtained an approved local qualification in optometry; and | | (ii) | has not less than one year of practical experience in the practice of optometry in Singapore; |
| | (b) | a person who —| (i) | prior to 1st January 2008 —| (A) | has obtained a Certificate in Contact Lens Practice or an equivalent qualification approved by the Board; and | | (B) | has not less than 5 years of practical experience as a contact lens practitioner; and |
| | (ii) | has passed the qualifying examination specified in Part III of the Second Schedule within 2 attempts; |
| | (c) | a person who, prior to 1st January 2008, has obtained a Certificate in Contact Lens Practice or an equivalent qualification approved by the Board and who —| (i) | has obtained an approved local qualification in optometry or an approved foreign qualification in optometry; or | | (ii) | has completed a course of instruction in optometry specified in Part IV of the Second Schedule; or |
| | (d) | a person whom the Board has approved for full registration as an optometrist under regulation 8(5) or 9(6). |
| (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Board may, if it is of the view that it is not in the public interest for a person referred to in that paragraph to be granted full registration as an optometrist, direct that he be registered provisionally or conditionally as an optometrist in the Register of Optometrists, and regulation 7 or 8, as the case may be, shall apply accordingly. |
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| Provisional registration as optometrist |
7.—(1) A person may be granted provisional registration as an optometrist if he has obtained an approved local qualification in optometry or an approved foreign qualification in optometry.| (2) A provisional registration as an optometrist shall be granted for a period not exceeding 2 years and may, at the discretion of the Board, be renewed only once for a further period not exceeding 2 years. |
| (3) A person who has been granted provisional registration as an optometrist may apply for the renewal of such provisional registration not later than one month before the expiry of the provisional registration. |
| (4) The Board may, during the period of a person’s provisional registration as an optometrist, require the registered person to undergo observation, complete such training or fulfil such other condition as the Board thinks fit. |
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| Conditional registration as optometrist |
8.—(1) The following persons may be granted conditional registration as an optometrist:| (a) | a person who —| (i) | has obtained an approved foreign qualification in optometry; and | | (ii) | has not less than one year of practical experience in the practice of optometry in Singapore or elsewhere; |
| | (b) | a person whom the Board has directed to be registered conditionally under regulation 6(2); or | | (c) | a person whom the Board has approved for conditional registration under regulation 9(6). |
| (2) A conditional registration as an optometrist shall be granted for a period not exceeding 2 years and may, at the discretion of the Board, be renewed only once for a further period not exceeding 2 years. |
| (3) A person who has been granted conditional registration as an optometrist may apply for the renewal of such conditional registration not later than one month before the expiry of the conditional registration. |
| (4) The Board may, during the period of a person’s conditional registration as an optometrist, require the registered person to undergo observation, complete such training or fulfil such other condition as the Board thinks fit. |
| (5) Where the Board is, during any period of observation, satisfied with the performance of a person who is registered conditionally as an optometrist and upon proof that the registered person has completed such training or fulfilled such other condition as required by the Board, the Board may, under regulation 6(1)(d) and upon the application of the registered person, grant the registered person full registration as an optometrist. |
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| Temporary registration as optometrist |
9.—(1) A person may be granted temporary registration as an optometrist if he —| (a) | has obtained such qualification in optometry (other than an approved local qualification in optometry or an approved foreign qualification in optometry) as may be recognised by the Board; and | | (b) | has not less than 3 years of practical experience in the practice of optometry in Singapore or elsewhere. |
| (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Board may, if it is of the view that it is not in the public interest for a person referred to in that paragraph to be granted temporary registration as an optometrist, direct that he be registered temporarily as an optician in the Register of Opticians, and regulation 13(1)(b) shall apply accordingly. |
| (3) A temporary registration as an optometrist shall be granted for a period not exceeding 3 years and may, at the discretion of the Board, be renewed only once for a further period not exceeding one year. |
| (4) A person who has been granted temporary registration as an optometrist may apply for the renewal of such temporary registration not later than one month before the expiry of the temporary registration. |
| (5) The Board may, during the period of a person’s temporary registration as an optometrist, require the registered person to undergo observation, complete such training or fulfil such other condition as the Board thinks fit. |
(6) Where the Board is, during any period of observation, satisfied with the performance of a person who is registered temporarily as an optometrist and upon proof that the registered person has completed such training or fulfilled such other condition as required by the Board, the Board may —| (a) | under regulation 6(1)(d) and upon the application of the registered person, grant the registered person full registration as an optometrist; or | | (b) | under regulation 8(1)(c) and upon the application of the registered person, grant the registered person conditional registration as an optometrist. |
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| Full registration as optician |
10.—(1) Subject to paragraph (5), the following persons may be granted full registration as an optician:| (a) | a person who —| (i) | has obtained an approved local qualification in opticianry; and | | (ii) | has not less than 2 years of practical experience in the practice of opticianry in Singapore; |
| | (b) | a person who —| (i) | prior to 1st January 2008, has not less than 5 years of practical experience in the practice of opticianry; and | | (ii) | has passed the qualifying examination specified in item 1 in Part III of the First Schedule within 2 attempts; |
| | (c) | a person who —| (i) | prior to 1st January 2008, has not less than 5 years of practical experience in the practice of opticianry, which need not include experience in performing any refractive service; and | | (ii) | has passed the qualifying examination specified in item 2 in Part III of the First Schedule within 2 attempts; |
| | (d) | a person who —| (i) | prior to 1st January 2008, has not less than one year of practical experience in the practice of opticianry; and | | (ii) | has completed the course of instruction in opticianry specified in item 1 in Part IV of the First Schedule; |
| | (e) | a person who —| (i) | prior to 1st January 2008, has not less than one year of practical experience in the practice of opticianry, which need not include experience in performing any refractive service; and | | (ii) | has completed the course of instruction in opticianry specified in item 2 in Part IV of the First Schedule; or |
| | (f) | a person whom the Board has approved for full registration as an optician under regulation 12(8) or 13(6)(a). |
(2) A person registered under paragraph (1)(a) shall not perform any refractive service for any person unless his practical experience in the practice of opticianry includes the performance of refractive services and —| (a) | he has obtained the approved local qualification in opticianry specified in item 1 in Part I of the First Schedule; or | | (b) | he has completed the course of instruction in refraction specified in item 1 in Part V of the First Schedule. |
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| (3) A person registered under paragraph (1)(c) or (e) shall not perform any refractive service for any person, unless he has completed the course of instruction in refraction specified in item 1 in Part V of the First Schedule. |
(4) A person registered under paragraph (1)(f) shall not perform any refractive service for any person unless —| (a) | he has, in the course of obtaining his qualification in optometry or opticianry, received instruction in the performance of refraction; or | | (b) | he has completed the course of instruction in refraction specified in item 1 in Part V of the First Schedule. |
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| (5) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Board may, if it is of the view that it is not in the public interest for a person referred to in that paragraph to be granted full registration as an optician, direct that he be registered provisionally or conditionally as an optician in the Register of Opticians, and regulation 11 or 12, as the case may be, shall apply accordingly. |
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| Provisional registration as optician |
11.—(1) A person may be granted provisional registration as an optician if he has obtained an approved local qualification in opticianry or an approved foreign qualification in opticianry.(2) A person registered under paragraph (1) shall not perform any refractive service for any person unless —| (a) | he has obtained the approved local qualification in opticianry specified in item 1 in Part I of the First Schedule; | | (b) | he has, in the course of obtaining an approved foreign qualification in opticianry, received instruction in the performance of refraction; or | | (c) | he has completed the course of instruction in refraction specified in item 1 in Part V of the First Schedule. |
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| (3) A provisional registration as an optician shall be granted for a period not exceeding 2 years and may, at the discretion of the Board, be renewed only once for a further period not exceeding 2 years. |
| (4) A person who has been granted provisional registration as an optician may apply for the renewal of such provisional registration not less than one month before the expiry of the provisional registration. |
| (5) The Board may, during the period of a person’s provisional registration as an optician, require the registered person to undergo observation, complete such training or fulfil such other condition as the Board thinks fit. |
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| Conditional registration as optician |
12.—(1) The following persons may be granted conditional registration as an optician:| (a) | a person who —| (i) | has obtained an approved foreign qualification in opticianry; and | | (ii) | has not less than 2 years of practical experience in the practice of opticianry in Singapore or elsewhere; |
| | (b) | a person who —| (i) | prior to 1st January 2008, has not less than one year of practical experience in the practice of opticianry in Singapore; and | | (ii) | submits, on or before 31st July 2008, an application for conditional registration as an optician; |
| | (c) | a person whom the Board has directed to be registered conditionally under regulation 10(5); or | | (d) | a person whom the Board has approved for conditional registration under regulation 13(6)(b). |
(2) A person registered under paragraph (1)(a) shall not perform any refractive service for any person unless —| (a) | he has obtained an approved foreign qualification in opticianry and has, in the course of obtaining such qualification, received instruction in the performance of refraction; or | | (b) | he has completed the course of instruction in refraction specified in item 1 in Part V of the First Schedule. |
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(3) A person registered under paragraph (1)(b) shall not perform any refractive service for any person unless —| (a) | his practical experience in the practice of opticianry includes experience in performing refractive service; or | | (b) | he has completed the course of instruction in refraction specified in item 1 in Part V of the First Schedule. |
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(4) A person registered under paragraph (1)(c) or (d) shall not perform any refractive service for any person unless —| (a) | he has, in the course of obtaining his qualification in optometry or opticianry, as the case may be, received instruction in the performance of refraction; or | | (b) | he has completed the course of instruction in refraction specified in item 1 in Part V of the First Schedule. |
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| (5) A conditional registration as an optician shall be granted for a period not exceeding 3 years and may, at the discretion of the Board, be renewed only once for a further period not exceeding one year. |
| (6) A person who has been granted conditional registration as an optician may apply for the renewal of such conditional registration not less than one month before the expiry of the conditional registration. |
| (7) The Board may, during the period of a person’s conditional registration as an optician, require the registered person to undergo observation, complete such training or fulfil such other condition as the Board thinks fit. |
| (8) Where the Board is, during any period of observation, satisfied with the performance of a person registered under paragraph (1)(a) and upon proof that the registered person has completed such training or fulfilled such other condition as required by the Board, the Board may, under regulation 10(1)(f) and upon the application of the registered person, grant the registered person full registration as an optician. |
| (9) For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in paragraph (8) shall prevent the Board from granting a person registered under paragraph (1)(b), upon the application of the registered person, full registration as an optician under regulation 10(1)(b), (d) or (e). |
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| Temporary registration as optician |
13.—(1) The following persons may be granted temporary registration as an optician:| (a) | a person who —| (i) | has obtained such qualification in opticianry (other than an approved local qualification in opticianry or an approved foreign qualification in opticianry) as may be recognised by the Board; and | | (ii) | has not less than 3 years of practical experience in the practice of opticianry in Singapore or elsewhere; or |
| | (b) | a person —| (i) | who has obtained such qualification in optometry (other than an approved local qualification in optometry or an approved foreign qualification in optometry) as may be recognised by the Board; | | (ii) | who has not less than 3 years of practical experience in the practice of opticianry in Singapore or elsewhere; and | | (iii) | whom the Board has directed to be registered temporarily as an optician under regulation 9(2). |
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(2) A person registered under paragraph (1) shall not perform any refractive service for any person unless —| (a) | he has, in the course of obtaining his qualification in optometry or opticianry, as the case may be, received instruction in the performance of refraction; or | | (b) | he has completed the course of instruction in refraction specified in item 1 in Part V of the First Schedule. |
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| (3) A temporary registration as an optician shall be granted for a period not exceeding 3 years and may, at the discretion of the Board, be renewed only once for a further period not exceeding one year. |
| (4) A person who has been granted temporary registration as an optician may apply for renewal of such temporary registration not less than one month before the expiry of the temporary registration. |
| (5) The Board may, during the period of a person’s temporary registration as an optician, require the registered person to undergo observation, complete such training or fulfil such other condition as the Board thinks fit. |
(6) Where the Board is, during any period of observation, satisfied with the performance of a person registered under paragraph (1)(a) and upon proof that the registered person has completed such training or fulfilled such other condition as required by the Board, the Board may —| (a) | under regulation 10(1)(f) and upon the application of the registered person, grant the registered person full registration as an optician; or | | (b) | under regulation 12(1)(d) and upon the application of the registered person, grant the registered person conditional registration as an optician. |
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| Application to sit for qualifying examination |
| 14. A person who wishes to sit for a qualifying examination specified in Part III of the First or Second Schedule, as the case may be, shall make an application in such form as the Board may require to the Accreditation and Examinations Committee or any institution of higher learning authorised by the Board under section 30(2) of the Act. |
| Results of qualifying examination |
| 15. The Accreditation and Examinations Committee or any institution of higher learning authorised by the Board under section 30(2) of the Act, as the case may be, shall notify in writing each person who sits for a qualifying examination as to whether he passed or failed that examination. |
| Copy of entry in register |
| 16. The Registrar may, upon an application by any person accompanied by the appropriate fee specified in the Third Schedule, provide a certified copy of an entry in the Register of Optometrists or Register of Opticians to the person. |
| Application for certified true copy of certificate of registration |
| 17. An application for a certified true copy of a certificate of registration shall be made in such form as the Board may require and shall be accompanied by the appropriate fee specified in the Third Schedule. |
| Registration of additional qualification |
18.—(1) A registered person who obtains a qualification in addition to the qualification by virtue of which he has been registered may apply to the Registrar to have that additional qualification entered in the Register of Optometrists or Register of Opticians.| (2) An application referred to in paragraph (1) shall be accompanied by the appropriate fee specified in the Third Schedule. |
| (3) The Registrar, in consultation with the Board, shall determine what additional qualification may be entered in the Register of Optometrists or Register of Opticians. |
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| Registered person ceasing to carry on practice |
| 19. The Board may cancel the registration of a registered person under section 20(3)(d) of the Act if the Board is satisfied that the registered person has not renewed his practising certificate for a continuous period of not less than 5 years and he has no address in Singapore at which he can be found. |
| Restoration of registration |
20.—(1) An application for the restoration of a registration under section 24 of the Act shall be made in such form as the Board may require and shall be accompanied by the appropriate fee specified in the Third Schedule.(2) The application shall —| (a) | state the grounds on which the application is made; | | (b) | be accompanied by at least 2 certificates as to the good reputation and character of the applicant signed by a registered person, magistrate or Justice of the Peace; and | | (c) | be accompanied by such other document or information as the Board may require. |
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| (3) Except with the leave of the Board, neither the applicant nor any other person may appear before the Board to make any representation in respect of the application. |
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