Repercussions of practising without APC
Professionals are reminded of the importance of attending to recertification requirements and maintaining their annual practising certificate ("APC").
An optometrist was recently censured by the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal ("HPDT"), ordered to pay a fine of $1,250 and contribute towards the proceedings costs for practising without an APC.
The Optometrist left his re-application for an APC until his current one had already expired and had neglected to undertake the practical component of the diagnostic pharmaceutical agents recertification programme.
It was further recommended that the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board consider the possibility of conducting a competence review.
The full decision can be found on the HPDT website: www.hpdt.org.nz (decision number Opt10/168P)