Continuing competence is a key part of ensuring that the optometric profession continues to provide the Canadian public with the very best in eye health care. CEO recognizes that optometrists maintain and develop their competencies by way of a number of learning mechanisms including formal continuing education, reading and researching, networking with colleagues, experimentation, etc. And that the effectiveness of any form of education depends on the learning style of the individual.

Facilitating the maintenance and development of competencies is part of the mission of every provincial optometric regulator. Across Canada, a variety of quality assurance programs, including mandatory Continuing Education, have been put into place by provincial regulators for this purpose. CEO has supported these programs and the intentions behind them by developing the ICLO for Practitioners.

CEO believes that the ICLO assessment will help practicing optometrists to better understand their professional development and enable them to better focus their time and efforts on developing those competencies most applicable within their practices. As well, CEO believes that those optometrists that demonstrate their current learning should be recognized and acknowledged for their efforts and achievements.

And so do the regulators. Although Continuing Education Credit recognition varies somewhat among jurisdictions, all of the Provincial Regulators recognize the value of the ICLO for Practitioners; both to the individual professional development of the practitioner and to the profession nationally.

By completing an ICLO assessment, each practitioner will be provided with:

• a confidential detailed ICLO Performance Results Report identifying those specific areas of practice in which they are particularly adept, while also identifying specific areas of practice in which continuing education renewal would be beneficial
• Continuing Education Credit as it applies within their particular jurisdiction
• a Certificate of Current Learning in Optometry, for those optometrists that demonstrate their currency by successfully completing the ICLO.

It is important to note that the ICLO for Practitioners is not meant to compete with, or replace, continuing education programs, nor is it intended to compete with the schools or the provincial associations providing continuing education programs. It is designed to identify an optometrist’s current knowledge as it relates to Canadian competencies – and to encourage excellence and quality practice with professional recognition and focused learning.