Moving to Canada to Practice Optometry

International graduates are considered to be those individuals who have obtained their optometric education from a school other than those accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE).

International graduates may be eligible to obtain a license or certificate of registration to practice in a province or territory in Canada. International graduates are encouraged to contact the optometric regulator in the province or territory in which they are interested to determine if they are eligible for a license or certificate of registration to practice in that jurisdiction. International graduates should contact the International Optometric Bridging Program (IOBP) at the University of Waterloo, Ontario to arrange for an evaluation of their educational and professional credentials and on their equivalency to those required in a particular jurisdiction. For international graduates wishing to practice in Québec, contact the Ordre des optométristes du Québec: www.ooq.org/?q=profession/equivalence.

As part of the evaluation process, a Prior Learning Assessment is required. A component of the Prior Learning Assessment is the Indicator of Current Learning (ICLO) which is a service of Canadian Examiners in Optometry.

Beginning in 2005, the University of Waterloo will be offering two different bridging programs for the assistance of international graduates whose educational and professional credentials are not equivalent to those required in a particular jurisdiction. International graduates are encouraged to review these programs at www.optometry.uwaterloo.ca/iobp/index.html.

International graduates who are otherwise eligible for a license or certificate of registration to practice optometry in a province or territory of Canada are required and will be authorized by a provincial or territorial optometric regulator to take the Canadian Assessment of Competence in Optometry (CACO)*. As with all applicants, CEO verifies the eligibility of international graduates to take the CACO as per the published eligibility requirements available at this link: www.ceo-eco.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=232&Itemid=207&lang=en.

* The CACO has replaced the Canadian Standard Assessment in Optometry (CSAO) as the Canadian standard assessment by which competence is verified.

Information for ACOE Accredited Optometry Program Students

Once you have graduated from an Accreditation Council on Optometric Education accredited School of Optometry, you are able to apply directly to the Canadian Examiners in Optometry to challenge the national entry to practice examination – the Canadian Assessment of Competence in Optometry (CACO). For test dates, pre-requisites, application forms, fees and other related information, go to www.ceo-eco.org.

For information on applying to practice in a province of your choice, contact your provincial regulatory body via Canadian Optometric Regulatory Authorities (CORA) www.cora-acro.com.