College Updates

Registration is Now Open for the Annual Update Webinar! The COA’s Annual Update Webinar is approaching once again, and all registered opticians are invited to attend! The update aligns with our Annual Report, which is to be submitted by the College to the Government of Alberta in 2026. The update will be hosted by COA’s […]

Calling All COA Practicing Registrants… The deadline to apply for paid volunteer positions on the COA’s Council and committees is just around the corner! Applications are to be submitted by April 30, 2026 (note: an extension may be possible). All registrants in good standing who have been an optician for a minimum of one year

The College of Opticians of Alberta’s 2024 Annual Update is now available for review! Please click here or the image on the left to access the report.

2026 Council Meeting Dates Council Meeting – Zoom: Mar. 27, 2026 Annual Update Webinar – Zoom: May 03, 2026 Council Meeting – In Person, Calgary: June 20, 2026 Council Meeting – Zoom: Oct. 23, 2026 Council Meeting Minutes: 2026 January 30, 2026 2025 January 29, 2025 March 31, 2025 June 21, 2025 October 17, 2025

Message from Dr. Laura McDougall Measles Update for All Healthcare Providers and Staff   April 9, 2025 Dear staff, physicians and volunteers, More than 35 measles cases have been identified in all five zones of Alberta Health Services since February, with evidence of community spread in some parts of the province. Cases also continue to

2023-26 Continuing Competence Program The COA’s 2023-26 Continuing Competence Program (CCP) has started. Registrants who have completed all of their learning goals for the 2020-23 cycle can now access the new ConEd portal and begin taking their assessments and building their learning plans for the new cycle. Registrants who haven’t yet fulfilled their learning goals

Approved revisions to COA’s Standards of Practice Reflect Bill 10 Warning: the following contains sensitive material that may be triggering and/or offensive to some. Reader discretion is advised. The Government of Alberta’s Minister of Health has approved revisions to the COA’s Standards of Practice to align with the Health Professions (Protecting Women and Girls) Amendment

Online Application Forms for all Categories of Opticians Now Live The COA has launched online application forms for provisional opticians, opticians transferring to Alberta from other provinces, and former opticians applying for reinstatement of registration. This online application process is fully integrated with the COA’s database and allows registrants to complete the application process and

As part of our relaunch as the College of Opticians of Alberta (COA), we have implemented a new database platform to update the COA’s infrastructure, enhance security, and provide cloud-based support to registrants. The first phase of implementation will go live on June 1, 2022, and includes the following changes:  New COA Registrant Portal for

On January 1, 2022, the Alberta College and Association of Opticians (ACAO) became the College of Opticians of Alberta (COA) with the sole mandate to protect the Alberta public.  Bill 46 introduced by the Government of Alberta in December 2020 requires all dual mandate health colleges and associations to separate. Opticians in Alberta will continue to