Compiled from an official source version. Later amendments or repeals may not be reflected; the official text prevails. · Read the official text ↗
Appointment of Registrar
12.—(1) For the purposes of this Act, the Minister must appoint a member to be the Registrar of the Board. (2) The Minister may appoint any person to act as Registrar during the absence from Singapore or incapacity from illness or otherwise of the Registrar.
Registers
13.—(1) The Registrar must keep and maintain the following registers:(a) a Register of Optometrists containing the names of persons registered as optometrists under section 15; (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 must contain the following particulars of every registered person:(a) the registered person’s name and residential address; (b) information as to whether the registered person is practising as a proprietor or an employee; (c) the registered name of the business or eye care establishment that the registered person operates or is employed by; (d) the address of the registered person’s most current place of work; (e) the date of the registered person’s registration as an optometrist or optician; (f) the qualifications by virtue of which the registered person is registered and the date on which the registered person obtained those qualifications; (g) such other particulars as the Board may determine. (3) A registered person must inform the Registrar in writing of —(a) any change in the registered person’s 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 the registered person’s qualifications. (4) A 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 or her residential address under section 10 of the National Registration Act 1965 is deemed to have complied with subsection (3)(a) in relation to the person’s residential address on the date on which the person 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 the disclosure is in accordance with any conditions specified in those regulations. (7) Subsection (6) does not affect any other right or duty to disclose the information under any general or written law.
Alteration of registers
14. The Registrar must —(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 the Registrar’s 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 the Registrar’s 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 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.
Registration of optometrists and opticians
15.—(1) Any person who desires to carry out any practice of optometry or opticianry must make an application to the Board for registration 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 provide 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 the course, examination and evaluation, and the conditions upon which an applicant may be exempted from the course, examination or evaluation; (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.
Refusal of registration
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 or she 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 must by written notice inform the applicant of the refusal. (3) A 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 is final.
Certificate of registration
17.—(1) Upon the registration of a person, the Board must issue to the person 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 or her registration in respect of any practice of optometry or opticianry cancelled or suspended under section 20, the person must surrender his or her certificate of registration to the Board —(a) within 14 days of being notified by the Board of the 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) A 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.
Practising certificate
18.—(1) A registered person who desires to obtain a practising certificate for the practice of optometry or opticianry for which he or she is registered must make an application to the Board in such form and manner as the Board may require. (2) The application must be accompanied by the prescribed fee. (3) A practising certificate is valid for such period as the Board may determine. (4) An application for the renewal of a practising certificate must be made no later than 30 days before the expiry of the practising certificate and must 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 expiry of the practising certificate is liable to pay to the Board such late application fee as may be prescribed. (6) Where a person has had his or her registration in respect of any practice of optometry or opticianry cancelled or suspended under section 20, the person must surrender his or her practising certificate to the Board —(a) within 14 days of being notified by the Board of the 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) A 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.
Publication of list of registered persons
19. The Registrar must, 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.
Power of Board to cancel registration, etc.
20.—(1) Any complaint concerning the conduct of a registered person in his or her professional capacity must 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 or her professional capacity, the Board must notify the registered person of the complaint or information and give that registered person an opportunity to be heard either in person 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 or her registration by a fraudulent or an incorrect statement; (b) has had any of his or her qualifications by virtue of which he or she was registered withdrawn or cancelled by the authority through which it was acquired or by which it was awarded; (c) has had his or her 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 or she is registered; (e) has failed to comply with any condition to which his or her 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 or her; (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 or her 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 or her practice as an optometrist or optician which renders him or her 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 or she is registered safely or effectively by reason of any mental or physical disability; or (l) has failed to pay any penalty imposed on him or her under subsection (4)(b). (4) Where a registered person is liable to have his or her registration cancelled on any ground mentioned in subsection (3)(e) to (l), the Board may, instead of cancelling the registration, take one or more of the following measures:(a) censure the registered person; (b) impose on the registered person a penalty not exceeding $10,000; (c) order that the registered person’s registration be subject to such conditions as the Board may impose for a period not exceeding 3 years; (d) suspend the registered person’s 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) is recoverable as a debt due to the Government. (7) Despite any appeal under section 22 that is pending, the decision of the Board to cancel or suspend the registration of a registered person, or to impose any penalty on the registered person under subsection (4)(b), takes effect on the date the decision has been communicated to him or her, unless the Board or the General Division of the High Court otherwise directs.[40/2019] (8) While the registration of a registered person for the carrying out of a practice of optometry or opticianry remains suspended, he or she is not 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 the registered person’s suspension, his or her rights and privileges under this Act are 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 or her registrations for both or all of those practices of optometry or opticianry without having to institute separate proceedings.
Costs
21.—(1) Where the Board cancels the registration of a registered person under section 20(3) or takes any action against the registered person under section 20(4), the Board may order the registered person to pay any sums that 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 the registered person. (2) The General Division of the High Court has jurisdiction to tax the sums ordered to be paid under subsection (1), and the sums are recoverable as a debt due to the Government.[40/2019]
Appeal
22.—(1) A 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 General Division of the High Court may allow, appeal to the General Division of the High Court against the decision.[40/2019] (2) There is no further appeal against the decision of the General Division of the High Court pursuant to subsection (1).[40/2019]
Conviction final and conclusive
23. The Board in taking action under section 20, and the General Division of the High Court on appeal from an order of the Board under section 22, must accept the conviction of a registered person for a criminal offence as final and conclusive.[40/2019]
Restoration of registration
24.—(1) A person whose registration has been cancelled under section 20 may apply to the Board for his or her 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 the person. (3) No application for re-registration is to be made to the Board —(a) before the expiry of 3 years from the date of the cancellation; and (b) more than once in any period of 12 months.
Provisions on this page are reproduced verbatim from official open data. See the attribution line.
Compiled from an official source version. Later amendments or repeals may not be reflected; the official text prevails. Read the official text ↗
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