CPD requirements for optometrists
What the Optometry Board of Australia's CPD registration standard asks of a optometrist with general registration, and how VitalCPD keeps your records ready for an audit.
What the Board requires
- At least 20 h of CPD each registration year (this one: 1 Dec 2025 – 30 Nov 2026).
- At least 5 h of it interactive.
- At most 5 h of Non-scientific or non-clinical CPD count toward the total.
- CPR training within the previous three registration periods (doesn't count toward your hours).
Endorsements and notations
- Scheduled medicines: an extra 10 h, including a minimum of two hours of CPD in an interactive setting. The Board doesn't say how these hours are pro-rated, so the full 10 hours apply. Check with the Board.
Registered part-way through the year? Your hours may be less (pro-rata). Work out your own hours.
Sources, checked 15 Oct 2026:
Boards update their standards from time to time. VitalCPD isn't affiliated with Ahpra or the Optometry Board of Australia; always check the Board's current standard.
Reflection questions in VitalCPD
Based on Optometry Board, reflection guidance (Dec 2020). VitalCPD asks these for every activity you log.
- What did I learn from the CPD activity?
- Did what I learn help meet my learning goals?
- Has what I learned improved my competence and kept me up to date or built on my knowledge? How?
- Does what I learned suggest that I could change my practice to improve patient outcomes? How? If not, why?
- How could/should I change my practice to improve patient outcomes?
- What do I need to do to implement change in my practice?
- Do I need to do any further learning to ensure that I am competent and up to date?
- Summary