Optician Pathway Quiz

Please answer the following yes or no questions to best determine which pathway is applicable to you.

Have you completed an education program in Opticianry?
Is your Opticianry education from an accredited institution?
  • Georgian College
  • Seneca College
  • NAIT
  • Douglas College
  • Oulton College
  • College Communautaire de Nouveau Brunswick
Are you currently registered to practice Opticianry in another jurisdiction in Canada?
What class of registration do you currently hold?
Are you registered to dispense both eye glasses and contact lenses?
Please submit a completed application form along with the following:
  • A passport style photo taken within 6 months of the application date
  • Insurance or Undertaking form and letter of standing from the governing body at which you are currently registered
  • Professional Liability Insurance if you are currently employed or intend to be employed in any setting where you will be performing the Controlled Act of Dispensing
  • Insurance or Undertaking form if you are not currently employed in the profession and do not intend to be employed to perform the Controlled Act of Dispensing
  • Notarized copies of your proof of identity and Employment Eligibility
  • If applicable, proof of graduation from any post-secondary program you may have completed outside of Opticianry; and
  • A completed credit card authorization form
Have you completed the National Optical Sciences Examinations for both eye glasses and contact lenses?
Please submit a completed application form along with the following:
  • A passport style photo taken within 6 months of the application date
  • Insurance or Undertaking form and letter of standing from the governing body at which you are currently registered
  • Proof of Professional Liability Insurance if you are currently employed or intend to be employed in any setting where you will be performing the Controlled Act of Dispensing
  • Insurance or Undertaking form if you are not currently employed in the profession and do not intend to be employed to perform the Controlled Act of Dispensing
  • Notarized copies of your proof of identity and Employment Eligibility
  • If applicable, proof of graduation from any post-secondary program you may have completed outside of Opticianry; and
  • A completed credit card authorization form
Have you completed education and/or training in both eye glasses and contact lenses in the last 3 years?
Please submit a completed application form along with the following:
Unfortunately you do not meet the requirements for registration at this time. If you believe that your education and/or experience, although unrelated to Opticianry, meet the standards outlined in the Entry to Practice Competencies, please contact the College to discuss possible next steps
Have you completed the National Optical Sciences Examination for both eye glasses and contact lenses?
Have you completed 1000 hours of verified dispensing experience?
Have you been registered as a student or intern Optician in Ontario?
Please submit a completed application form along with the following:
  • A passport style photo taken within 6 months of the application date
  • Verification of Dispensing Experience form, or a graduation letter confirming the completion of 1000 hours of verified dispensing experience
  • Insurance or Undertaking Form and proof of Professional Liability Insurance if you are currently employed or intend to be employed in any setting where you will be performing the Controlled Act of Dispensing
  • Insurance or Undertaking form if you are not currently employed in the profession and do not intend to be employed to perform the Controlled Act of Dispensing
  • Notarized copies of your Employment Eligibility (if the information you previously provided is outdated)
  • If applicable, Certificate of Standing form and letters of standing from any governing body with which you are registered in any jurisdiction
  • If applicable, proof of graduation from any post-secondary program you may have completed outside of Opticianry; and
  • A completed credit card authorization form
Please submit a completed application form along with the following:
  • A passport style photo taken within 6 months of the application date
  • Verification of Dispensing Experience form, or a graduation letter confirming the completion of 1000 hours of verified dispensing experience
  • Insurance or Undertaking form and proof of Professional Liability Insurance if you are currently employed or intend to be employed in any setting where you will be performing the Controlled Act of Dispensing
  • Insurance or Undertaking form if you are not currently employed in the profession and do not intend to be employed to perform the Controlled Act of Dispensing
  • Notarized copies of your Employment Eligibility (if the information you previously provided is outdated)
  • If applicable, Certificate of Standing and letters of standing from any governing body with which you are registered in any jurisdiction
  • If applicable, proof of graduation from any post secondary program you may have completed outside of Opticianry; and
  • A completed credit card authorization form
1000 hours of dispensing experience is a non-exemptible registration requirement. Please contact the College to determine how you can obtain the necessary hours in order to register as an Optician.
Please submit a completed application form along with the following:
  • A passport style photo taken within 6 months of the application date A letter of graduation from your Opticianry program
  • Notarized copies of your proof of identity and employment eligibility
  • If applicable, letters of standing from any governing body with which you are registered or have been registered in any jurisdiction
  • If applicable, proof of graduation from any post-secondary program you may have completed outside of Opticianry; and
  • A completed credit card authorization form
Are you currently registered to practice Opticianry in another jurisdiction in Canada?
What class of registration do you currently hold?
Have you completed the National Optical Sciences Examinations for both eye glasses and contact lenses?
Please submit a completed application form along with the following:
  • A passport style photo taken within 6 months of the application date
  • The Insurance or Undertaking form and proof of Professional Liability Insurance if you are currently employed or intend to be employed in any setting where you will be performing the Controlled Act of Dispensing
  • Notarized copies of your proof of identity and Employment Eligibility
  • If applicable, Certificate of Standing form and letters of standing from any governing body with which you are registered in any jurisdiction
  • If applicable, proof of graduation from any post-secondary program you may have completed outside of Opticianry; and
  • A completed credit card authorization form
PLAR - PLAR is a process that allows applicants who have not completed their education through an accredited opticianry program to be assessed. These applicants will be asked to demonstrate their level of knowledge and skills of opticianry. The PLAR process potentially leads to obtaining recognition for prior learning these applicants have acquired. To see if you are eligible for PLAR please contact the registration department by email at registration@collegeofopticians.ca or by phone at 416 368-3616 ext. 230
Are you registered to dispense both eye glasses and contact lenses?
Please submit a completed application form along with the following:
  • A passport style photo taken within 6 months of the application date
  • Letter of standing from the governing body at which you are currently registered
  • Insurance or Undertaking form and proof of Professional Liability Insurance if you are currently employed or intend to be employed in any setting where you will be performing the Controlled Act of Dispensing
  • Notarized copies of your proof of identity and Employment Eligibility
  • If applicable, Certificate of Standing form from any governing body with which you are registered in any jurisdiction
  • If applicable, proof of graduation from any post-secondary program you may have completed outside of Opticianry; and
  • A completed credit card authorization form
Have you completed education and training in both eye glasses and contact lenses in the last 3 years?
PLAR and transfer information - accedited for one, assessed for the other, LOS, education etc.
PLAR is a process that allows applicants who have not completed their education through an accredited opticianry program to be assessed. These applicants will be asked to demonstrate their level of knowledge and skills of opticianry. The PLAR process potentially leads to obtaining recognition for prior learning these applicants have acquired. To see if you are eligible for PLAR please contact the registration department by email at registration@collegeofopticians.ca or by phone at 416 368-3616 ext. 230
Unfortunately you do not meet the requirements for registration at this time. If you believe that your education and/or experience, although unrelated to Opticianry, meet the standards outlined in the Entry to Practice Competencies, please contact the College to discuss possible next steps
Have you completed any relevant education and/or training in Opticianry or a related field (such as Optometry or Ophthalmology)?
PLAR - PLAR is a process that allows applicants who have not completed their education through an accredited opticianry program to be assessed. These applicants will be asked to demonstrate their level of knowledge and skills of opticianry. The PLAR process potentially leads to obtaining recognition for prior learning these applicants have acquired. To see if you are eligible for PLAR please contact the registration department by email at registration@collegeofopticians.ca or by phone at 416 368-3616 ext. 230
Unfortunately you do not meet the requirements for registration at this time. If you believe that your education and/or experience, although unrelated to Opticianry, meet the standards outlined in the Entry to Practice Competencies, please contact the College to discuss possible next steps
Are you enrolled in either Seneca College or Georgian College?
Please submit a completed application form along with the following:
  • A passport style photo taken within 6 months of the application date A letter of enrollment from your Educational Institution dated no longer than a month from the application date Notarized copies of your proof of identity and employment eligibility
  • If applicable, letters of standing from any governing body with which you are registered in any jurisdiction
  • If applicable, proof of graduation from any post-secondary program you may have completed outside of Opticianry; and
  • A completed credit card authorization form
Unfortunately you cannot apply for registration at this time. Please note that it is not mandatory for student opticians to be registered with the College in order to complete the CO-OP requirements.
Have you completed the National Optical Sciences Examinations for both eye glasses and contact lenses?
Please submit a completed application form along with the following:
  • A passport style photo taken within 6 months of the application date
  • Insurance or Undertaking form and proof of Professional Liability Insurance if you are currently employed or intend to be employed in any setting where you will be performing the Controlled Act of Dispensing
  • Notarized copies of your proof of identity and Employment Eligibility
  • If applicable, Certificate of Standing form and letters of standing from any governing body with which you are registered in any jurisdiction
  • If applicable, proof of graduation from any post-secondary program you may have completed outside of Opticianry; and
  • A completed credit card authorization form
Please submit a completed application form along with the following:
  • A passport style photo taken within 6 months of the application date A letter of graduation from your Opticianry program Notarized copies of your proof of identity and employment eligibility
  • If applicable, letters of standing from any governing body with which you are registered or have been registered in any jurisdiction
  • If applicable, proof of graduation from any post-secondary program you may have completed outside of Opticianry; and
  • A completed credit card authorization form

 

Restart Quiz

COO footer logo
The College of Opticians of Ontario
90 Adelaide Street W., Suite 300, Toronto, ON M5H 3V9

Find an Optician
Privacy Policy  |  Accessibility  |  En Français
© 2024 College of Opticians of Ontario