How Do I Become an Optometrist?

• three years* of university undergraduate studies in sciences and mathematics (*however, most applicants for optometry programs hold a 4-year Bachelor of Science degree)

And

• four-year university program in optometry — only two programs in Canada:

In B.C. the College of Optometrists of British Columbia guides and regulates all optometrists registered in British Columbia.  To be licensed to practise optometry, the optometrist must complete his/her education and specialized training at a university based school of optometry, successfully pass a national exam (the ‘jurisprudence examination’) and become registered [“licensed”] with the College of Optometrists of BC.

You are required to successfully complete the Advanced Standing Optometry Preparatory Program (ASOPP) at the University of Waterloo and pass the College of Optometrists of BC Jurisprudence Examination.  You will need to contact FORAC Federation of Optometric Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FORAC) for assessment of credentials.  For more information see:

Sources: WorkBC

For more information see: