ILLEGAL DISPENSING:

Illegal dispensing affects us all. There exists the immediate risk to the public who may be trusting their vision and eyecare needs to an untrained and non-registered individual.

The other point is that of ethics and basic fairness. Registered Opticians have completed extensive theoretical and practical training. Depending on the program between two years full time or four years part time at community College. To register as a licenced Optician in the province of Ontario, they must then pass the registration examination and provide proof of liability insurance. To maintain their licence not only must they pay the Registration dues of almost $800/yr, they must then on a regular basis complete approximately 10 credits/hours of continuing education every year.

How then is it fair that after abiding by all of these terms and conditions, the investment of educational time, registration fees, liability insurance and continuing education efforts that someone can by-pass all of that and open a store and conduct business without a registered optician?

If dispensaries continue to operate with non-registered staff and the College of Opticians does not take action to prosecute these individuals, this could support a push for deregulation. The argument could be made that if the public thus far has not been harmed while being served by non-registered persons, is there really a risk of harm and need for regulating eyeglass and contact lens dispensing?