10 FEBRUARY 2005

NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 34

879

OPTOMETRISTS AND DISPENSING OPTICIANS BOARD

NOTICE OF SCOPE OF PRACTICE AND RELATED QUALIFICATIONS PRESCRIBED BY THE OPTOMETRISTS AND DISPENSING OPTICIANS BOARD

SCOPES OF PRACTICE

Pursuant to section 11 (1) of the Act, the Board specifies five scopes of practice as follows:

Scope of Practice for Optometry (Optometrist)

The practice of optometry provides evidence based comprehensive eye health and vision care in a professional and ethical manner, delivered by university-qualified optometrists.

Scope of Practice for Optometry (TPA Endorsement) (Optometrist with Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents (TPA) Endorsement)

The practice of optometry (TPA endorsement) provides evidence based comprehensive eye health and vision care in a professional and ethical manner, delivered by university-qualified optometrists.

Scope of Practice for Educator in Optometry (Educator Optometrist)

The scope of practice for an educator optometrist refers to the scope of practice for optometry, practised within an educational institution.

Scope of Practice for Educator in Optometry (TPA Endorsement) (Educator Optometrist with Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents (TPA) Endorsement)

The scope of practice for an educator optometrist (TPA endorsement) refers to the scope of practice for optometry with TPA endorsement, practised within an educational institution.

Scope of Practice for Optical Dispensing (Dispensing Optician)

Optical dispensing describes the practice of the interpreting and dispensing of optical prescriptions by a person with a recognised qualification. This includes the giving of advice and instruction in the dispensing of spectacle lenses, spectacle frames (including their fitting), contact lenses, and any other optical device intended for correction of a defect of sight.

Qualifications Prescribed for Registration in Each Scope of Practice

Pursuant to section 12 of the Act, the following qualifications are prescribed for registration.

Scope of Practice for Optometry (Optometrist)

Qualifications

Pathway (a) or (b) may be taken.

Pathway (a): The applicant holds an undergraduate qualification or proof of eligibility to graduate from an institution accredited by the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ) and this includes:

• BOptom University of Auckland, or
• BOptom University of Melbourne, or
• BOptom University of New South Wales, or
• BApplSc (Optometry) Queensland University of Technology.

Pathway (b): The applicant has a pass in the current OCANZ Competency in Optometry Examination.

Scope of Practice for Optometry (TPA Endorsement) (Optometrist with Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents (TPA) Endorsement)

Qualifications

The applicant is qualified for the scope of practice for optometry and holds:

• a Certificate in Ocular Pharmacology, University of Auckland, and an acknowledgement from the University of Auckland Faculty of Science stating that the applicant has successfully completed all the requirements of the Auckland programme in ocular therapeutics; or
• a BOptom, University of Auckland conferred in 2007 and thereafter; or
• a pass in a therapeutics programme accredited by OCANZ; or
• a pass in a therapeutics programme accredited by the Board.

Scope of Practice for Educator in Optometry (Educator Optometrist)

Qualifications

The applicant holds a qualification referred to in the scope of practice for optometry; or
the applicant holds a qualification referred to in the scope of practice for optometry (TPA endorsement); or
the applicant holds BApplSc (Optometry) or BSc (Optometry) from the University of Melbourne; or

(i) the applicant holds a listed (non bridging) qualification from one of the schools of optometry in the United Kingdom listed below:

• BSc/BSc Hons in Optometry; or BSc/BSc Hons in Ophthalmic Optics, University of Aston, or
• BSc/BSc Hons in Optometry (Ophthalmic Optics); or BSc/BSc Hons in Ophthalmic Optics, University of Bradford, or
• BSc/BSc Hons in Optometry, Cardiff University; or BSc/BSc Hons in Optometry or BSc/BSc Hons in Ophthalmic Optics, University of Wales College of Cardiff, or
• BSc/BSc Hons in Optometry; or BSc/BSc Hons in Ophthalmic Optics, The City University London, or
• BSc/BSc Hons in Optometry; or BSc/BSc Hons in Ophthalmic Optics, Glasgow Caledonian University, or
• BSc/BSc Hons in Optometry; or BSc/BSc Hons in Ophthalmic Optics, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, or
• BOptom, Anglia Polytechnic University, or
• BSc/BSc Hons in Optometry, University of Ulster, or