Interested in Becoming an Optician?

To become an optician, students need to enroll in an Ophthalmic Dispensing Eyeglasses Program at one of the educational institutions that offer opticianry programs. Optical Programs are offered full-time, part-time, or home study and take approximately 1-4 years for completion. Once a student has successfully completed an Optical program s/he is eligible to take the national licensing examination. Upon passing the licensing exam, students may apply for registration to their provincial regulatory agency, usually a college of opticians. An ophthalmic dispensing license allows an Optician to dispense eyeglasses.

Depending on which province the student resides in, s/he may then decide to continue on and become a licensed Contact Lens Fitter. The student must successfully complete a Contact Lens program, then sit the national licensing exam, and become registered with the provincial regulatory body. There are provinces (Ontario and Quebec) whose optical programs and licenses include both eyeglass and contact lens. Students graduating from these institutions need to sit the Eyeglass licensing exam and the Contact lens licensing exam separately, but may do so immediately after course completion.

For more information on Educational Institutions that offer Opticianry programs, visit our Links page.