Anual Practicing Certificate for Optometrist and Optician

Have you had the insecurity when you go into an optical outlet and wonder if the person that is serving you could not be a professional that he claims to be?

This is a common feeling nowadays by many patients of mine especially contact lens wearer that has been spooked with various negative press regarding the complications that may arise from improper contact lens care. Many of them would ask me if there is any way to identify if the person that is looking after you at the optical outlet is really licensed to do refraction on you.

If you are unsure of the difference between Optometrist and Optician, read here

Generally, there is 2 ways that you can identify if the outlet has a licensed practitioner either for eye refraction for glasses or for the dispense of contact lens or both.

Here i will be explaining on one of the ways (you need both to be absolutely sure).

The first method is via the Annual Practicing Certificate (APC) for Optometrist and Optician.

This is a certificate given out by the Malaysian Optic Council to all licensed practitioner and need to be renewed yearly. According to the Optical Act 1991, every practicing Optometrist and Optician needs to be registered with the Malaysian Optic Council to practice legally in Malaysia. This certificate needs to be displayed prominently at the practicing outlet as proof to the general public of the availability of a licensed practitioner in the outlet.

APC comes in two colour certification (blue colour APC for Optician and green colour APC for Optometrist). In the APC you will find the name of the practitioner along with his/her Mykad number, the date in which the certification is given and its expiration and the name and address of the premise in which he/she is practicing.

APC for Optometrist


APC for Optician (Juruoptik)

What can you as a consumer do if you do not see an APC in an Optical outlet?

You should ask for the APC to be shown to you, if they are not able to do so, then the outlet may be operating illegally. Even if it is shown to you, you must make sure that the person stated on the certification actually works in the outlet.

What if I suspect that the outlet is operating illegally? What is my right as a consumer?
The best way to handle this issue would be to lodge a complaint to the Tribunal of Consumer.


Next part i will talk about the Photo Name Certificate (PNC).