Continuing Competence Program
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.
New CCP Cycle
The new Continuing Competence Program has started! You can access the CCP by logging into the new COA portal. To begin the cycle, follow the steps below.
Login to the new COA portal here.
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.
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.
Learning plans are pro-rated for new registrants:
- If you became licensed as a Registered Optician before June 30, 2021, you are required to complete six learning plans.
- If you became licensed as a Registered Optician between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022, you are required to complete four learning plans.
- If you became licensed as a Registered Optician between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023, you are required to complete 2 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. Alternatively, you can also complete activities that align with your targeted areas of competency (at your own discretion), and then tie them in with your personal learning goals.
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 of your 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).
Learn More
CCP Information Guide
CCP Frequently Asked Questions
CCP Sample Learning Plan #1
CCP Sample Learning Plan #2
Please contact us at 780-429-2694 or info@albertaopticians.ca if you require assistance or have questions about the previous (2020-23) CCP cycle.