In a communiqué from the board of 14 October, following its 56th meeting on 24 Septber, the board says it is progressing the new registration standard for initial graduates that will come into effect on 1 Decber 2014.
“AHPRA sent a letter to existing optometrists who, based on their current registration status, will not be endorsed for scheduled medicines on 1 Decber 2014,” the communiqué said.
“The letter rinded these practitioners that a notation will be added to the public register and details will appear on the back of their registration certificate stating: ‘The optometrist is not qualified for endorsent for scheduled medicines and is not able to prescribe Schedule 4 medicines for the treatment of conditions of the eye.’
“The wording of the notation appears in the registration standard and was approved by the Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council on 27 April 2012.
“As this change to the registration status of the majority of optometrists is occurring during the renewal period, a hard copy registration certificate will not be sent to optometrists applying to renew their registration until after 1 Decber 2014.
“Renewal of registration for optometrists is now open. More than 4,500 optometrists with general or non-practising registration are due to renew their registration with the board by 30 Novber.”
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