Written by AI from public information on 2026-10-26. Fees and rules change and vary by province — confirm with the official body before relying on anything here.
Typical cost
about CA$3,000 to CA$6,000
an estimate in Canadian dollars
Time to earn it
about 8 months
Issued by Optometry Examining Board of Canada and provincial colleges
Required to start: Practising optometry needs a licence from the provincial college.
About
Optometrists are primary eye care providers. They test vision, prescribe glasses and contact lenses, and find and manage many eye diseases. In Canada, you cannot do this work without a licence. The licence protects the public by making sure every optometrist has met a clear standard of training and skill.
The licence is issued by the provincial or territorial college that regulates optometry where you want to work. To qualify for most licences, you pass the national exam run by the Optometry Examining Board of Canada. Each college then confirms your education and other requirements before it lets you practise.
How to get it
Complete an optometry degree
Finish a doctor of optometry program at a school accepted by the Canadian regulators. This follows several years of earlier university study, and it is the main educational requirement.
Pass the national exam
Register with the Optometry Examining Board of Canada and sit its exam. It has a written part and a hands-on clinical part.
Apply to the provincial college
Send your application to the college in the province or territory where you plan to work. Include your degree, exam results and any other documents the college asks for.
Meet the college's other requirements
You may need to show good character, provide proof of liability insurance and pass a background check. Some colleges also ask for a jurisprudence or law and ethics review.
Receive your licence and begin practice
Once the college approves your file, you are licensed and can practise. Some provinces add a short period of supervised or registered practice at first.
The exam
The Optometry Examining Board of Canada exam checks that you can practise safely. It includes a written part on eye science and patient care. It also includes a clinical part where you show your skills on real exam tasks. Plan for months of focused study before you sit it.
Licensed by each province
Each province and territory issues this itself, under its own rules. Each province and territory has its own college and its own rules. The core path is much the same across the country, but details such as forms, extra exams, supervised practice and the scope of what optometrists may treat can vary. Always check with the college where you plan to work. If you move provinces, you usually need to apply to the new college.
Careers that mention it
No Canadian career on the site names this yet.
Keeping it
Licences must be renewed on a regular schedule set by your college. To renew, you pay a fee and show that you have kept learning through approved continuing education. You must also keep your insurance and good standing up to date. Missing a renewal can mean losing the right to practise.