Optical Registration Board Return to Practice Bye-Law 2015.
Statutory Instruments
Source: Statutory Instruments

num: 1
paragraphs: (1) This bye-law may be cited as the Optical Registration Board Return to Practice Bye-Law 2015.
(2) This bye-law comes into operation on 31 October 2015.
num: 2
paragraphs: In this bye-law—
(a) a person who applies to resume practice of the profession in the Register of Optometrists or in a division of the Register of Dispensing Opticians after not having practised the profession in the register or division of the register in question for two years or more, or
(b) a person who, having been at any prior time registered in the Register of Optometrists within the meaning of the Opticians Act 1956 , applies for registration in the Register of Optometrists after not having practised the profession of optometrist for two years or more, or
(c) a person who, having been at any prior time registered in the Register of Dispensing Opticians within the meaning of the Opticians Act 1956 , applies for registration in the general division of the Register of Dispensing Opticians after not having practised the profession of dispensing optician for two years or more, or
(d) a person who, having been at any prior time registered in the Register of Dispensing Opticians within the meaning of the Opticians Act 1956 , applies for registration in the contact lenses division of the Register of Dispensing Opticians, after not having practised in the area previously confined to registrants in the Register of Dispensing Opticians within the meaning of the Opticians Act 1956 with entitlement to fit contact lenses for two years or more.
num: 3
paragraphs: For the purposes of sections 31, 37 and 38 of the Act, the Board has determined that where an applicant makes an application for registration, the criteria and conditions set out in this bye-law must be satisfied and that person must provide satisfactory evidence of his or her compliance with this bye-law in his or her application for registration.
num: 4
paragraphs: (1) An applicant who has not practised the profession, including in the particular division to which the application to resume practice relates, for a period of between 2 and 5 years must complete a period of updating consisting of not less than 210 contact hours, no more than half of which may comprise of private study.
(2) An applicant who has not practised the profession, including in the particular division to which the application to resume practice relates, for any period greater than 5 years must complete a period of updating consisting of not less than 420 contact hours, no more than half of which may comprise of private study.
(3) An applicant must have completed his or her period of updating within the two year period prior to the date of submission of his or her application, unless the Board permits otherwise.
(4) The period of updating shall consist of contact hours spent by the applicant engaging in:
(a) supervised practice;
(b) formal study; and/or
(c) private study.
(5) The applicant shall keep an accurate record in reasonable detail of his or her period of updating and, if requested to do so, shall provide such record to the Board.
num: 5
paragraphs: (1) For the purposes of the period of updating, supervised practice shall, subject to paragraph 8, consist of the applicant practising the profession:
(a) under the guidance of a supervisor;
(b) in a structured manner in accordance with a learning plan which has been agreed between the applicant and his or her supervisor; and
(c) in accordance with such guidelines as the Board may publish from time to time.
(2) The learning plan shall:
(a) be structured in a manner which is consistent with the standards of proficiency published by the Board from time to time; and
(b) provide for the applicant to develop, demonstrate and apply his or her knowledge and skills in the profession;
(c) the applicant’s experience in the profession;
(d) the applicant’s intended area of practice upon resumption of practice;
(e) the length of time the applicant has not practised the profession;
(f) any relevant developments in the profession during the period the applicant has not practised the profession; and
(g) any relevant knowledge and/or skills acquired or developed by the applicant during the period the applicant has not practised the profession.
(3) The supervisor shall make reasonable efforts to monitor and supervise the applicant’s practice of the profession during the supervised practice and to provide input, assistance and guidance to the applicant as the supervisor deems fit, having regard to each of the factors specified in paragraph 5(2)(c) to (g).
num: 6
paragraphs: (1) For the purposes of the period of updating, formal study shall, subject to paragraph 8, consist of the applicant undertaking and participating in educational courses, training or programmes of education and/or training (including structured educational courses or training delivered electronically and/or through distance learning) relevant to the practice of the profession in the register or division of the register to which the application relates.
(2) Formal study may include group learning whether undertaken by means of a lecture, workshop, seminar, tutorial, video-conferenced lecture or tutorial or in such other manner as may be acceptable to the Board from time to time.
num: 7
paragraphs: For the purposes of the period of updating, private study may, subject to paragraph 8, consist of the applicant engaging in one or more of the following:
(a) reading professional journals or publications relevant to his or her area of practice;
(b) engaging in research relevant to the profession generally and/or his or her area of practice;
(c) engaging in online study or e-learning consisting of education and/or training that is generated, communicated, processed, sent, received, recorded, stored and/or displayed by electronic means or in electronic form including that provided through the internet or other computer network connections, sound and/or visual formats provided through an electronic file, and/or provided through digital or other electronic means;
(d) publishing written materials in relation to the profession and/or his or her area of practice; and
(e) such other activities as may be acceptable to the Board from time to time.
num: 8
paragraphs: The Board may publish guidance materials from time to time for the purposes of providing additional guidance and/or specifying any restrictions or other limitations which apply for the purposes of this bye-law in relation to the period of updating, contact hours and/or the nature of any supervised practice, formal study or private study undertaken by an applicant.
num: 9
paragraphs: (1) An applicant must complete, in writing or by electronic means, such Return to Practice form as is provided from time to time by or on behalf of the Board and submit same to the Board with his or her application for registration.
(2) Where the applicant’s period of updating includes a period of supervised practice, the applicant must ensure that his or her supervisor(s) signs the relevant section(s) of the Return to Practice form.
(3) An applicant must ensure that an attesting signatory verifies that the applicant has completed the period of updating, takes reasonable steps to satisfy himself or herself that the applicant has completed the requisite period of updating and signs the Return to Practice form to indicate same.
(4) An attesting signatory shall take reasonable steps to satisfy himself or herself that the applicant has completed the requisite period of updating.
(5) The applicant must provide such additional information or supporting materials to evidence his or her completion of the period of updating to the satisfaction of the Board as the Board may request.
num: 10
paragraphs: The Board shall evaluate and verify the education and training undertaken by the applicant during the period of updating and such other information as it deems appropriate, for the purposes of satisfying itself that the applicant has met the requirements of this bye-law.
num: 11
paragraphs: Without prejudice to any bye-laws which the Board may from time to time make pursuant to section 31(1)(e) of the Act, the Board may require any person who:
(a) applies for registration; and
(b) has been engaged in the practice of the profession outside of Ireland for two years or more,
(c) may require such person to:
(i) comply with the requirements of this bye-law; or
(ii) undertake such activities, education and/or training as the Board may specify in order to refresh, update and/or improve his or her skills, knowledge and performance as are relevant for practice in the profession in the register or division of the register in which the applicant wishes to be registered in Ireland.