Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board

• About the Board
  • The Board's functions
  • Meet the Board
  • Board staff
  • Board committees
  • Board meetings

The Board is established to carry out functions determined by the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. 

The HPCA Act sets out the functions of authorities under part 6 section 118 (a-m).

1. to prescribe the qualifications required for scopes of practice within the profession, and, for that purpose, to accredit and monitor educational institutions and degrees, courses of studies, or programmes:
 
2. to authorise the registration of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians under this Act, and to maintain registers:
 
3. to consider applications for annual practising certificates:
 
4. to review and promote the competence of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians:
 
5. to recognise, accredit, and set programmes to ensure the ongoing competence of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians:
 
6. to receive and act on information from health practitioners, employers, and the Health and Disability Commissioner about the competence of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians:
 
7. to notify employers, the Accident Compensation Corporation, the Director-General of Health, and the Health and Disability Commissioner that the practice of an Optometrist or Dispensing Optician may pose a risk of harm to the public:
 
8. to consider the cases of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians who may be unable to perform the functions required for the practice of their profession:
 
9. to set standards of clinical competence, cultural competence, and ethical conduct to be observed by Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians:
 
10. to liaise with other authorities appointed under the Act about matters of common interest:
 
11. to promote education and training in the professions:
 
12. to promote public awareness of the responsibilities of the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board:
 
13. to exercise and perform any other functions, powers, and duties that are conferred or imposed on it by or under this Act or any other enactment.