Look up a health practitioner

Close

Check if your health practitioner is qualified, registered and their current registration status

Recency of practice

Recency of practice means that an optometrist has maintained an adequate connection with, and recent practice in optometry since qualifying for, or obtaining registration.

Registration standard

Registration standards define the requirements that applicants or registrants need to meet to be registered.

Document name PDF Accessible format Date of effect
Registration standard: Recency of practice PDF 
(45.9KB)
Word version 
(369KB,DOCX)
1 December 2015

Further information

The following additional document has been developed to supplement the registration standard by providing further information to optometrists regarding the Optometry Board’s expectations and requirements. This document should be read in conjunction with the standard.

Document name PDF Accessible format Date of effect
FAQ: 2015 revised Recency of practice registration standard  PDF
(92.5KB) 
Word version
(61.2KB,DOCX) 
25 November 2015 

Return to practice guidance for optometrists

Document PDF
Accessible format
Document date
Guide - Tips for taking a break from practice
PDF
(193KB)
Word version
(156 KB,DOCX)
25 May 2020
Frequently asked questions - Return to practice
PDF
(214KB)

Word version
(186 KB,DOCX)

25 May 2020
Information sheet - Returning to practice or significantly changing scope of practice
PDF
(245 KB)

Word version
(170 KB,DOCX)
25 May 2020
Template - Professional development - return to practice
PDF
(93.9KB)

Word version
(267 KB,DOC)
25 May 2020
Template - Supervised practice plan
PDF
(152 KB)
Word version
(228 KB,DOC)
25 May 2020
Checklist - Return to practice
PDF
(154KB)
Word version
(156 KB,DOCX)

25 May 2020

For more information on supervision and to access supervision documents, please visit the Codes, Guidelines and Policies, page.

Consultation process for the recency of practice standard

The current Registration standard: Recency of practice was developed after a review of the retired standard, which included public consultation. The public consultation paper provides an overview of the consultation process, rationale for any changes and sets out the proposed way forward, including areas where further work is planned. This is found on the Past consultations page.

The Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council approval letter for the registration standard is found on the Ministerial Council Directions and Approval page.

Document name PDF Accessible format Document date
Consultation report: Recency of practice PDF 
(109KB)
Word version 
(80.0KB,DOCX)
30 October 2015

Retired version

The retired version of the registration standard is no longer in effect.

Document name PDF Date of effect
Retired version: Recency of practice registration standard PDF 
(353KB)
1 July 2010 to 30 November 2015

Note: If a practitioner is selected for audit, they will be audited against the registration standard that was in effect during the audit period, or as otherwise specified. For more information on audits refer to the audit page.

 
 
Page reviewed 20/11/2020