Canada Optometry License

Jurisdiction for the licensing or certification of optometrists in Canada is set at the provincial level and each one has its own optometric regulatory board.  The provincial optometric boards have different rules to obtain a license, however the Mutual Recognition Agreement among regulators of optometry in Canada, allows for central rules that dismiss barriers like residency requirements, certain education aspects by adopting the CSAO and recognizing other optometrist license or certifications in other jurisdictions. According to immigration rules, other general requirements include Canadian citizenship, permanent residency or authorization to work in the field of optometry.

Canadian Examiners in Optometry – CEO

The Canadian Examiners in Optometry is a not-for-profit organization designed to serve Canada’s provincial optometric regulatory boards, by providing guidelines on the optometry profession including a description of the profession, assessment of individuals, quality of practice and evaluation of optometrists. One of the tools created by the CEO is the Canadian Standard Assessment in Optometry (CSAO), which grades an individual’s competence in an optometry practice. The test is not just a test based on knowledge from school courses, but on the individual’s experience and expertise in the field regarding everything from interpersonal skills with patients to diagnosing of eye and vision conditions. All provinces use the CSAO as a component in determining if an individual is issued a license or certificate to work as an optometrist.

Canadian Examiners in Optometry
6085 Main Street
Stouffville, Ontario Canada L4A 3R4
Phone:  905-642-1373
Fax:  905-642-3786
Email: csao@ca.inter.net
http://www.ceo-eco.org

International Graduates

For international graduates, which are those not from a college or university accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education, there is the International Optometric Bridging Program, IOBP designed to provide education and training for preparation for the CSAO. The CEO-ECO’s Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) exam is used to determine the level of knowledge and skill the international optometrist has obtained, and is used to assign which bridging program is better suited. There are two bridging programs, Bridging One, which is a six week orientation program, and Bridging Two, which is a year long, structured academic program. For more information on the program contact the school.

University of Waterloo School of Optometry
Waterloo, Ontario Canada N2L 3G1
Phone:  519-888-4567 ext 37882
Fax:  519-725-0784
Contact:  Dr. Susan Cooper, Director
E-mail:  iobp@optometry.uwaterloo.ca
http://www.optometry.uwaterloo.ca/iobp/

Provincial License Requirement List

Each Canadian province or territory has its own specific requirements in order to obtain a license or certificate in optometry. There are requirements to prescribe, dispense and administer therapeutic pharmaceutical agents, the need for liability insurance, and others depending on the province. A clean record with no criminal conviction is also required. The list below is just some of the requirements of each province:

• College of Optometrists of British Columbia – CSAO, jurisprudence examination, criminal record check
• Alberta College of Optometrist – annual practice permit, CSAO, registration examination, jurisprudence examination
• College of Optometrists of Ontario – CSAO, jurisprudence examination, 750 hours of direct optometric care, meet Quality Assurance Committee evaluation on skills and knowledge
• Manitoba Association of Optometrists – CSAO, Manitoba Jurisprudence examination, recent notarized photograph certifying proof of identity and current legal name
• Nova Scotia College of Optometrist – CSAO, Nova Scotia Optometric Jurisprudence, annual report form
• Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists – CSAO, Board of Examiners examination, Jurisprudence examination
• New Brunswick Association of Optometrists – CSAO, RCMP criminal record check, three confidential assessment forms from eye care professionals, Jurisprudence Exam

Because rules and regulations are always changing, please check out the Canada Provincial Optometric Regulatory Boards page for accurate information.