Effective August 2009 The process of incorporation for health professionals is unique to them and it is recommended that members consult with a lawyer familiar with health regulatory law and…more
Resource Category: Policies & Guidelines - Administration
Guidelines to Determine Relevance to Member’s Suitability to Practise
Effective September 30, 2015 Purpose The purpose of this policy is to provide a guideline in determining when a member’s conduct is relevant to their suitability to practise. Introduction Health…more
Guidelines for the Appropriate Use of Social Media by Optometrists
Updated April 8, 2025 With the advent of social media, optometrists have many new means of communicating with their patients and the public. There are many examples of social media…more
Discontinuation of Service
Revised: August 2009 Updated: November 2014 If you feel you can no longer provide care to a patient—because, for example , the patient is abusive to you or your staff,…more
Business Name Registration
Effective April 15, 2014 Under paragraph 2.( 2) of the Business Names Act, “no individual shall carry on business or identify his or her business to the public under a name…more
Assessing an Applicant’s Good Character
Effective September 30, 2015 Purpose This policy explains, in the interests of transparency and fairness, how the College of Optometrists of Ontario assesses information from or about applicants for whom…more
Anti-Discriminatory Policy Guidelines
Effective January 14, 2013 The College’s Code of Ethics The College’s by-laws include a Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics reaffirms the duty of an optometrist to treat all…more
Advertising Guidelines, Including Member and Practice Representation
Effective December 13, 2024 Introduction The following guidelines describe how optometrists may represent themselves and their qualifications in their advertising, practice names, and general business practices. “Advertisement” is defined as…more
Access to Applicant Information and Records Policy
Effective Date: July 17, 2014 Overview Applicants for pre-registration and registration are entitled to access documents provided to the College of Optometrists (College) as part of their application process. Authorized…more
Practice Advisory: Your Patients, Your Staff, Your Responsibility
The Optometric Practice Reference (OPR) (Optometric Practice Reference – Oct 2021) places the responsibility for all services provided by optometrists and their staff squarely on the shoulders of the optometrist. Most service…more