Search the Register
Important Information
You can search the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board Register to find out whether an optometrist or dispensing opticians is currently registered and is able to practise in Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as other public information.
Please contact the office if you have a query related to the Register or a particular practitioner on +64 4 381 9075.
The ODOB requires all of its registrants to renew their practising status annually by the 31st of March, regardless of whether they intend to practise.
Copy of the Register
To order a copy of the Register, please complete the following form.
Order Copy of the Register Online
Understanding the Register
"Registered, current certificate": A practitioner holding this status has been issued with a current practising certificate entitling them to practise, has been deemed fit and competent to practise by the ODOB, and is participating in the ODOB’s compulsory practitioner recertification programme.
"Registered, maintaining Reg only": A practitioner holding this status has notified the ODOB that they do not intend to practise during the current practising year, and they are not actively participating in the ODOB’s compulsory practitioner recertification programme.
"Registered, maintaining Reg/CPD": A practitioner holding this status has notified the ODOB that they do not intend to practise during the current practising year. They are however actively participating in the recording of continuing professional development activities to maintain their competence to practise for future practising periods. They are not required to meet the ODOB’s recertification programme requirements.
"Registered, not practising": A practitioner holding this status has not notified the ODOB of their practising intentions for the current year and may be out of communication with us. We regularly review the Register and writes to practitioners who have lost touch with the ODOB in accordance with the HPCA Act. A practitioner's entry in the Register may be cancelled by the Registrar if they do not respond within a certain prescribed timeframe set under the HPCA Act.
Scope of Practice
The ODOB has four scopes of practices:
- Provisional Optometrist Scope of Practice
- Optometrist Scope of Practice
- Specialist Optometrist Scope of Practice – Ophthalmic Laser Surgeries
- Dispensing Optician Scope of Practice
If you are looking for an optometrist authorised to prescribe medicines, you are looking for an optometrist on the Register who is registered in the “Optometrist Scope of Practice” who does not have a condition listed on their scope of practice that indicates they are not authorised to prescribe medicines.
If you are looking for an optometrist able to independently manage and prescribe for glaucoma patients, they will have an endorsement on their “Optometrist scope of Practice”, stating their have “Glaucoma Prescribing.”
The ODOB does its best to maintain the accuracy of the Register, but if you believe the information to be incorrect, please contact the office.
Practitioners must promptly inform the ODOB of any name or address changes. Email: registrations@odob.health.nz.
