Section 21: Certificate of experience

(1) A person who, after obtaining an approved qualification, satisfies the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) of this section shall be entitled to receive free of charge a certificate of experience in the prescribed form from the person in charge of the institution mentioned in that subsection.
(2) The conditions which a person must satisfy under subsection (1) of this section, are-
(a) he shall have served his time for the prescribed period in Nigeria with a view to obtaining a certificate of experience;
(b) he shall have acquired during his employment practical experience under the personal supervision and guidance of one or more registered optometrist or dispensing optician, as the case may be, for such periods as may be prescribed; and
(c) the manner in which he earned out the duties of his employment and his conduct during the period of his employment shall have been satisfactory.
(3) It shall be the duty of the employer being a registered optometrist or dispensing optician, as the case may be supervising the work of persons employed with a view to obtaining a certificate of experience, to ensure that the person is afforded proper opportunities of acquiring the practical experience required for the purposes of paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of this section.
(4) Where after having served his time as mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of this section a person is refused a certificate of experience he shall be entitled-
(a) to receive from his employer particulars in writing of the grounds of the refusal; and
(b) to appeal from the refusal to a committee of the Board in accordance with rules made by the Board in that behalf (including rules as to the time within which appeals are to be brought).
and on any such appeal the committee shall either dismiss the appeal or itself issue the certificate of experience in question or give such other directions in the matter as it considers just.
(5) Regulations may provide for the issue of certificate of experience in respect of employment and institutions outside Nigeria.