On 21/05/2013,
you requested for the version in force on 21/05/2013
incorporating all amendments published on or before 21/05/2013.
The closest version currently available is that of 31/12/2008.
PART III
REGISTRATION OF OPTOMETRISTS AND OPTICIANS
13.
—(1) The Registrar shall keep and maintain the following registers:
(a)
a Register of Optometrists containing the names of persons registered as optometrists under section 15; and
(b)
a Register of Opticians containing the names of persons registered as opticians under section 15.
(2) The Register of Optometrists and the Register of Opticians shall contain the following particulars of every registered person:
(a)
his name and residential address;
(b)
information as to whether he is practising as a proprietor or an employee;
(c)
the registered name of the business or eye care establishment that he operates or is employed by;
(d)
the address of his most current place of work;
(e)
the date of his registration as an optometrist or optician;
(f)
the qualifications by virtue of which he is registered and the date on which he obtained those qualifications; and
(g)
such other particulars as the Board may determine.
(3) A registered person shall inform the Registrar in writing of —
(a)
any change in his name, residential address, practice address or other particulars as may be prescribed, within 28 days of the occurrence of the change; and
(b)
any alteration or addition to his qualifications.
(4) Any person who fails to comply with subsection (3)(a) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.
(5) A person who makes a report of a change in his residential address under section 8 of the National Registration Act (Cap. 201) shall be deemed to have complied with subsection (3)(a) in relation to his residential address on the date on which he makes the report.
(6) The Registrar may disclose any information in the Register of Optometrists or the Register of Opticians to any person prescribed by the regulations, if such disclosure is in accordance with such conditions as may be specified in those regulations.
(7) Subsection (6) is without prejudice to any other right or duty to disclose the information under any general or written law.
14. The Registrar shall —
(a)
insert in the Register of Optometrists or the Register of Opticians (as the case may be) any alteration to the name, address or other particulars of any registered person which may come to his knowledge;
(b)
correct any error in any entry in the Register of Optometrists or the Register of Opticians (as the case may be) which may come to his knowledge;
(c)
remove from the Register of Optometrists or the Register of Opticians (as the case may be) the name of any person —
(i)
whose registration has been cancelled under any provision of this Act; or
(ii)
who is deceased; and
(d)
insert in the Register of Optometrists or the Register of Opticians (as the case may be) any alteration to the qualifications or any additional qualifications of a registered person.
15.
—(1) Any person who desires to carry out any practice of optometry or opticianry shall make an application for registration to the Board in accordance with the regulations.
(2) The Board may, subject to the regulations, register a person to carry out any practice of optometry or opticianry, as the case may be.
(3) The Minister may, in respect of the practice of optometry or opticianry, by regulations make provisions for or with respect to the following matters:
(a)
the different classes of registration;
(b)
the form and manner of application, and the application fee, for each class of registration;
(c)
the qualifications and other requirements for each class of registration;
(d)
the conditions, restrictions and duration of each class of registration;
(e)
the circumstances in which a class of registration may be altered or renewed and the fees payable in respect thereof;
(f)
the course, qualifying examination and evaluation for the purpose of any class of registration, the fees payable for such course, examination and evaluation, and the conditions upon which an applicant may be exempted from such course, examination or evaluation; and
(g)
the practice and conduct of optometrists or opticians, including the carrying out of the practice of optometry or opticianry, the use of any means of giving publicity to their practice and the use of titles and qualifications.
16.
—(1) The Board may refuse to register any applicant who —
(a)
in the opinion of the Board, may not be registered in accordance with the regulations;
(b)
in the opinion of the Board, is not of good reputation and character; or
(c)
fails to satisfy the Board that he is able to effectively and safely carry out the practice of optometry or opticianry.
(2) Where the Board refuses to register an applicant, the Board shall by notice in writing inform the applicant of such refusal.
(3) Any person who is aggrieved by any refusal of the Board under subsection (1) may, within 30 days of the notice given under subsection (2), appeal to the Minister whose decision shall be final.
17.
—(1) Upon the registration of a person, the Board shall issue to him a certificate of registration and specify in the certificate the practice or practices of optometry or opticianry for which the person is registered.
(2) Where a person has had his registration in respect of any practice of optometry or opticianry cancelled or suspended under section 20, he shall surrender his certificate of registration to the Board —
(a)
within 14 days of being notified by the Board of such cancellation or suspension; or
(b)
in a case where an appeal is pending under section 22, within such period as the Board may specify.
(3) Any person who fails to comply with subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
18.
—(1) A registered person who desires to obtain a practising certificate for the practice of optometry or opticianry for which he is registered shall make an application to the Board in such form and manner as the Board may require.
(2) The application shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
(3) A practising certificate shall be valid for such period as the Board may determine.
(4) An application for the renewal of a practising certificate shall be made no later than 30 days before the expiration of the practising certificate and shall be made in such form and manner as the Board may require.
(5) A registered person who applies for a practising certificate later than 30 days before the expiration of the practising certificate shall be liable to pay to the Board such late application fee as may be prescribed.
(6) Where a person has had his registration in respect of any practice of optometry or opticianry cancelled or suspended under section 20, he shall surrender his practising certificate to the Board —
(a)
within 14 days of being notified by the Board of such cancellation or suspension; or
(b)
in a case where an appeal is pending under section 22, within such other period as the Board may specify.
(7) Any person who fails to comply with subsection (6) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
19. The Registrar shall, from time to time, prepare and publish on an Internet website a list of the names, addresses, qualifications and dates of qualifications of all persons who —
(a)
are registered as optometrists or opticians; and
(b)
have in force practising certificates.
20.
—(1) Any complaint concerning the conduct of a registered person in his professional capacity shall be made to the Board in such form and manner as the Board may require.
(2) Where the Board receives any complaint against a registered person under subsection (1) or otherwise comes to know of any information concerning the conduct of a registered person in his professional capacity, the Board shall notify the registered person of the complaint or information and give him an opportunity to be heard either personally or by counsel.
(3) The Board may cancel the registration of a registered person if the Board is satisfied that the registered person —
(a)
has obtained his registration by a fraudulent or an incorrect statement;
(b)
has had any of his qualifications by virtue of which he was registered withdrawn or cancelled by the authority through which it was acquired or by which it was awarded;
(c)
has had his registration in any other country for the practice of optometry or opticianry withdrawn, suspended or cancelled;
(d)
has ceased to carry on the practice of optometry or opticianry for which he is registered;
(e)
has failed to comply with any condition to which his registration is subject;
(f)
has contravened any regulation made under this Act relating to the practice and conduct of optometrists or opticians that applies to him;
(g)
has been convicted of an offence in Singapore or elsewhere involving fraud or dishonesty;
(h)
has been convicted of an offence in Singapore or elsewhere implying a defect in character which renders him unfit to remain on the Register of Optometrists or the Register of Opticians;
(i)
has been guilty of any professional misconduct or negligence;
(j)
has been guilty of any improper act or conduct in his practice as an optometrist or optician which renders him unfit to remain on the Register of Optometrists or the Register of Opticians;
(k)
is unable to carry out the practice of optometry or opticianry for which he is registered safely or effectively by reason of any mental or physical disability; or
(l)
has failed to pay any penalty imposed on him under subsection (4)(b).
(4) Where a registered person is liable to have his registration cancelled on any of the grounds referred to in subsection (3)(e) to (l), the Board may, instead of cancelling his registration, take one or more of the following measures:
(a)
censure him;
(b)
impose on him a penalty not exceeding $10,000;
(c)
order that his registration be subject to such conditions as may be imposed by the Board for a period not exceeding 3 years;
(d)
suspend his registration for a period not exceeding 3 years.
(5) Where the Board determines that there are no merits in any complaint or information received by it concerning any registered person, it may dismiss the complaint or information.
(6) Every penalty imposed under subsection (4)(b) shall be recoverable as a debt due to the Government.
(7) Notwithstanding that any appeal under section 22 is pending, the decision of the Board to cancel or suspend the registration of a registered person, or to impose any penalty on him under subsection (4)(b), shall take effect on the date the decision has been communicated to him, unless the Board or the High Court otherwise directs.
(8) While the registration of a registered person for the carrying out of a practice of optometry or opticianry remains suspended, he shall not be regarded as a registered person in respect of that practice of optometry or opticianry for the purposes of this Act, but on the expiry of his suspension, his rights and privileges under this Act shall be revived.
(9) Where a person is registered in respect of 2 or more practices of optometry or opticianry, the Board may take action under this section in relation to his registrations for both or all of those practices of optometry or opticianry without having to institute separate proceedings.
21.
—(1) Where the Board cancels the registration of a registered person under section 20(3) or takes any action against him under section 20(4), the Board may order him to pay such sums as it thinks fit in respect of the costs and expenses of or incidental to any inquiry or investigation conducted or the taking of action against him.
(2) The High Court shall have jurisdiction to tax the sums ordered to be paid under subsection (1), and such sums shall be recoverable as a debt due to the Government.
22.
—(1) Any person who is aggrieved by a decision of the Board under section 20(3), (4) or (5) may, within 14 days of the date of the decision of the Board or within such further period as the High Court may allow, appeal to the High Court against the decision.
(2) There shall be no further appeal against the decision of the High Court pursuant to subsection (1).
23. The Board in taking action under section 20, and the High Court on appeal from an order of the Board under section 22, shall accept the conviction of a registered person for a criminal offence as final and conclusive.
24.
—(1) A person whose registration has been cancelled under section 20 may apply to the Board for his name to be re-registered.
(2) The Board may, after considering all relevant circumstances, and upon the compliance by the applicant of all conditions imposed by the Board, if any, and the payment of the prescribed fee, re-register him.
(3) No application for re-registration shall be made to the Board —
(a)
before the expiration of 3 years from the date of the cancellation; and
(b)
more than once in any period of 12 months.