Maintaining your registration

To practise as an optometrist or dispensing optician in Aotearoa New Zealand, you must be registered with the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board (ODOB) and hold a current annual practising certificate (APC).

Practicing certificates are renewed annually, and it is illegal to practise without a current practising certificate.

To apply for, or renew, an APC, please choose the relevant link below, and provide all necessary information. At this time, the ODOB only accepts physical forms along with originals or certified copies as evidence.

On this page: Apply for a practicing certificate | Renew an existing certificate | Illegal practice

Practising without an APC is illegal

Every practitioner who wishes to renew or reapply for an APC must apply to the Registrar. No person may claim to be practising as a health practitioner of a particular kind or do anything to suggest that they are practising unless the practitioner holds a current APC within the scope of practice in which they are registered.

The ODOB will communicate with all APC holders before the start of the new practising year, asking for an indication of your practising intentions. When applying for an APC, please include your current mailing and email address details, noting your legal responsibilities to notify the office of any change of address or change of name. Email: registrations@odob.health.nz.