Accreditation functions within the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (National Scheme) assure the Optometry Board of Australia (the Board) that applicants for registration are suitably qualified to practice in a competent and ethical manner.
The Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ) is the accreditation authority responsible for performing accreditation functions for the optometry profession. These functions include assessment of programs of study in Australia and assessment of overseas qualified optometrists seeking registration in Australia.
One of the objectives of the National Scheme is to facilitate the provision of high quality education and training of health practitioners. The accreditation and approval of programs of study is the primary way of achieving this.
OCANZ provides accreditation reports to the Board on the programs of study it has assessed and accredited. The Board then may approve, or refuse to approve, the accredited program of study as providing a qualification for the purposes of registration. The Board’s approval may be subject to conditions.
An online search is available for all Optometry Approved Program of Study approved by the Board.
If accreditation conditions apply to the approved programs of study please refer to OCANZ’s Accredited Programs of Study webpage for further information.
An online search is available for Inactive Programs of Study for programs that are no longer delivered by an Education Provider or no longer approved by the National Board.
Optometrists trained outside Australia and New Zealand seeking registration with a non approved program of study may still qualify for registration under section 53 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (National Law), more information is found on the Board’s Overseas Practitioners webpage.
If accreditation conditions apply please refer to the OCANZ website for further details of the accreditation conditions.
Accreditation standards help to ensure that education providers and their programs give students the knowledge, skills and professional attributes to competently practise in the profession in Australia.
The following accreditation standards are published in accordance with section 47(6) of the National Law as in force in each state and territory. These standards are also published under OCANZ’s Accreditation webpage.
Accreditation standard for post-graduate ocular therapeutics
Retired version