BC College Revises Registration Process
The College of Optometrists of British Columbia held its latest board meeting on December 12, 2010. The issue of accepting NBEO (National Board Exam in Optometry, the US exam) vs. CSAO (Canadian Standard Assessment in Optometry/lÉvaluation canadienne standardisée en optométrie) came up under unfinished business. There was a long discussion during which several viewpoints and rationales were voiced. The final result of the vote of the College was that the College reversed its previous position of accepting the CSAO and NBEO interchangeably. It was felt that a strong national examination was essential for a number of reasons and that BC was in no position to independently examine applicants, or wishing to cede this responsibility to a foreign jurisdiction. The BC College understands that some applicants have already undertaken the NBEO route, so the change will take place effective Jan. 1, 2013. Applicants will however be encouraged to take the CSAO as their registration could experience problems with respect to portability and the College cannot guarantee acceptance in other provinces for registrants with an NBEO only. The NBEO will be accepted in BC only for applicants who have been registered and have practiced in the US and can produce a certificate of good standing from a State Board. The College of Optometrists of BC believes that cooperation between various Canadian Optometric Colleges and homogeneity of legislation of the various optometric regulatory bodies is essential considering mobility of registrants in Canada. CAO believes this difficult decision is in the best interest of Canadian optometric patients nationwide.
This is a little bit confusing to me. Can someone please decode? I wanted to move to BC to work with my NBEO certification. Does this mean I can't now unless I am registered to work in the US? Or does this all not come into effect until 2013?
The College of Optometrists of British Columbia held its latest board meeting on December 12, 2010. The issue of accepting NBEO (National Board Exam in Optometry, the US exam) vs. CSAO (Canadian Standard Assessment in Optometry/lÉvaluation canadienne standardisée en optométrie) came up under unfinished business. There was a long discussion during which several viewpoints and rationales were voiced. The final result of the vote of the College was that the College reversed its previous position of accepting the CSAO and NBEO interchangeably. It was felt that a strong national examination was essential for a number of reasons and that BC was in no position to independently examine applicants, or wishing to cede this responsibility to a foreign jurisdiction. The BC College understands that some applicants have already undertaken the NBEO route, so the change will take place effective Jan. 1, 2013. Applicants will however be encouraged to take the CSAO as their registration could experience problems with respect to portability and the College cannot guarantee acceptance in other provinces for registrants with an NBEO only. The NBEO will be accepted in BC only for applicants who have been registered and have practiced in the US and can produce a certificate of good standing from a State Board. The College of Optometrists of BC believes that cooperation between various Canadian Optometric Colleges and homogeneity of legislation of the various optometric regulatory bodies is essential considering mobility of registrants in Canada. CAO believes this difficult decision is in the best interest of Canadian optometric patients nationwide.
This is a little bit confusing to me. Can someone please decode? I wanted to move to BC to work with my NBEO certification. Does this mean I can't now unless I am registered to work in the US? Or does this all not come into effect until 2013?