Continuing Competence Program

COA website_Canadian-Regulatory-Guide

Program Guidelines

The COA Continuing Competence Program (CCP) is a mandatory program designed to ensure registered opticians maintain the necessary skills and knowledge to provide safe and effective eye care. The CCP requires registered opticians to assess their current competencies and create individualized plans to address any learning gaps. 

  • Assess Your Knowledge

    Multiple-choice questions based on the national competencies for opticians

  • Set Your Learning Goals

    Learning plans designed to address areas for improvement

  • Complete Your Learning

    A variety of recognized activities to help meet your learning goals

  • Celebrate Your Success

    Three-year cycle to asses, plan, and learn

Step 1: Take the Online Assessments

These multiple-choice questions about the national competencies for opticians will help you pinpoint areas in your skills and knowledge that could use improvement. The assessments are not graded tests, they are tools to help you focus your learning.

Ready to Start? Log in to the COA ConEd Portal to begin.

Step 2: Build Six Learning Plans

Your learning plans should address areas the assessments flag as needing improvement. Choose from a list of courses already assigned to the competencies or create a custom plan that includes relevant volunteerism, self-directed study, group projects, and more. The online tools will help you with guided questions and drop-down menus to customize your learning plans.

Step 3: Work on Your Learning Activities

After you build your learning plans, start completing the educational activities you have identified to meet your learning goals. Set yourself deadlines to help you stay on track.

Step 4: Mark Your Learning Plans as Complete

When you complete the educational activities and guided self-reflection for a learning plan, you can mark it as complete. You must mark all six (6) learning plans as complete before the end of your 3-year program cycle.

DISCLAIMER: This video may include reference to the Quality Assurance (QA) committee which is the previous name of the Continuing Competence committee and the Alberta College and Association of Opticians (ACAO) which is the previous name of the College of Opticians of Alberta (COA).