Contact Lens Fitter Insurance

**Snitgirl** · 06-22-2006, 09:59 PM

Hey Hey,

Need some help from the wonderful Canadians on this board and of course non Canadians who know :D

I am new to Canada (coming from the U.S.) and don't know about the Canadian procedures when it comes to Contact Lens Fitter Insurance.

I am filling out the registration form from the COBC and I need to purchase professional liability insurance with "at least" $1 million per occurrence. My question for you folks is, any reccomendations on who, what & where is the best place to purchase this insurance? Is there more then one place that offers it?

Its a bit late to phone COBC so I thought I would ask the board first and get some suggestions on it...

Thanks for your time, appreciate it!

michelle

**Jedi** · 06-22-2006, 10:20 PM

If I am not mistaken the OAC can provide errors and omissions insurance for their members. Try this link.

**Snitgirl** · 06-22-2006, 10:29 PM

Cool, thanks. It that the only organization that offers the insurance?

**mullo** · 06-23-2006, 12:08 AM

The D.O.A.B.C. also offers it at a reduced rate to members......some employers like mine pay for it also.....I have $5 million coverage and thankfully haven't had to exercise it...hehehe

Follow this link http://www.doabc.org/

Are you looking for work at this time?? or still working on your vergences.

**Snitgirl** · 06-28-2006, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by mullo

The D.O.A.B.C. also offers it at a reduced rate to members......some employers like mine pay for it also.....I have $5 million coverage and thankfully haven't had to exercise it...hehehe

Follow this link http://www.doabc.org/

Are you looking for work at this time?? or still working on your vergences.

I faxed them (doabc) my application and phoned them a few times. No return phone call and no one answers the phone. Strange.... I would like to go with them since they are local to my area but if no one is going to call me back or answer the phone, then it will force me to go with the OAC. Anyone on Optiboard work there (doabc)???????

lol, I am not working at this time since I am focusing on studying. vergences are starting to become a friend of mine... lol, thanks for asking:)

**wmcdonald** · 06-28-2006, 07:24 PM

....very professional title, eh! I think in Canada they use CL Practitioner. How do ever demean ourselves into such trivial sounding titles.

**chip anderson** · 06-28-2006, 07:44 PM

McDonald:

I suspect that contact lens practioner refers to the doctor that sells contacts. Contact lens fitter has been long the term in the states since the early days of sclera lenses and on to later types. Usually referred to an optician who actually hand fabricated lenses to individual fits on specific eyes.
Still the highest form of life at the Contact Lens Society of America.

Chip:)

**wmcdonald** · 06-29-2006, 07:47 AM

....it is a poor professional title, Anderson! Practitioner is someone who practices a profession. I do, and assume you do as well. I am not a technician (the term implies someone who merely carries out a technical function with little critical thinking or problem-solving functions), nor am I a fitter. Not being smug here; just making a point I have made hundreds of times before. The term is not a good one and should be changes to something more professional in the US.

**mullo** · 06-29-2006, 08:55 AM

In B.C. the title is actually Contact Lens Fitter.

Glad the vergences are being your friend Snitgirl!!! Let me know when you are looking for work and I'll give you a hand......

**Snitgirl** · 06-29-2006, 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by wmcdonald

....it is a poor professional title, Anderson! Practitioner is someone who practices a profession. I do, and assume you do as well. I am not a technician (the term implies someone who merely carries out a technical function with little critical thinking or problem-solving functions), nor am I a fitter. Not being smug here; just making a point I have made hundreds of times before. The term is not a good one and should be changes to something more professional in the US.

From my understanding......In B.C. Canada, here are the following titles you can resigter once you qualify of course..

Student Contact Lens Fitter
Dispensing Optician
Contact Lens Fitter
Non-practicing Dispensing Optician
Non-practicing Contact Lens Fitter

**Snitgirl** · 06-29-2006, 09:32 PM

Well, I am pretty disappointed that my calls & e mail wasn't returned or the fact they do not answer phones at the DOABC organization. Everytime I phoned, the voice mail came on. I switched to the OAC instead. Darn, I wanted to support the "local" association.... Oh well....:(

**Dave Nelson** · 06-30-2006, 07:25 PM

The title "contact lens fitter" is indeed the title, registered with the Health Professions Act. The College, on my motion, recently approved a change to "contact lens practitioner" and also to adopt the letter designations "RO" for registered optician, and "CLP" for Contact Lens Practitioner. Don't change your cards yet, we have to finalise this. The initiative is part of the labour mobility initiative, and has us using the same letter designation as Alberta, and a similar one to Ontario. I hope, eventually to have all Canada using a standard, recognizable letter designation.

David C. Nelson, RO,CLP, (WMWLM)*

*When my Wife Lets Me

**Snitgirl** · 01-27-2007, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by Dave Nelson

The title "contact lens fitter" is indeed the title, registered with the Health Professions Act. The College, on my motion, recently approved a change to "contact lens practitioner" and also to adopt the letter designations "RO" for registered optician, and "CLP" for Contact Lens Practitioner. Don't change your cards yet, we have to finalise this. The initiative is part of the labour mobility initiative, and has us using the same letter designation as Alberta, and a similar one to Ontario. I hope, eventually to have all Canada using a standard, recognizable letter designation.

David C. Nelson, RO,CLP, (WMWLM)*

*When my Wife Lets Me

Hi Sir Dave, was this finalized?