Obtaining professional accreditation as an optician

Professional accreditation as an optician is intended for people who wish to bring the professional skills associated with optometry to a small or medium-sized enterprise carrying out this regulated activity.

The SMEs concerned may be incorporated as natural or legal persons.

Professional competence as an optician can be proven:

• by a degree or diploma (minimum level required: 7th year of secondary education) or vocational training qualification (business owner);
• by professional experience of 5 years (full time) or 8 years (part time) in the last 15 years;
• or by a certificate from the Central Examinations Board.

If professional accreditation as an optician is obtained, the small or medium-sized enterprise may carry out the regulated activity of optometry (subject to further administrative formalities).

To obtain professional accreditation as an optician, the small or medium-sized enterprise must prove that it has professional competence as an optician at an Enterprise Counter.

Remedies:

If accreditation is refused, the applicant may lodge an appeal with the Conseil d’Etablissement – Place de la Wallonie 1, 5100 Jambes – within 30 days of the Enterprise Counter’s refusal decision becoming known to the applicant.

If the Education Board confirms the Enterprise Counter’s refusal decision, the applicant may lodge an appeal with the Council of State within 60 days of the Education Board’s refusal decision becoming known to the applicant.

• Programme Law of 10 February 1998 for the promotion of independent businesses.

  Royal Decree of 21 December 2006 on professional competence for the exercise of independent activities relating to bicycles and motor vehicles.