
Accreditation
Accredited programs are required to meet rigorous standards that ensure opticians are properly trained as experts in their field.
The best way to make sure that you have the skills and knowledge required to become a licensed optician in Canada is to complete an accredited educational program.
Accredited programs are available at several institutions. You can view the complete list by visiting this page.
Please visit the Education of Opticians in Canada page of this website for more information.
National Optical Sciences Examination
If you have successfully completed optician training at an accredited post-secondary institution in Canada, you are eligible to challenge the national licensing exam for opticians. The National Optical Sciences Examination is a practical exam, often referred to as the NACOR exam because it is administered by the National Alliance of Canadian Optician Regulators (NACOR).
To find out more information about the national exam and how to apply, you can visit the Examinations page of this website or contact NACOR or the regulatory body for opticians in your province.
Provincial Regulatory Bodies
College of Opticians of British Columbia
Suite 900 – 200 Granville St.
Vancouver, B.C.
V6C 1S4
Ph. 1-604-278-7510
Toll Free 1-888-771-6755
Fax. 1-604-278-7594
www.cobc.ca
Saskatchewan College of Opticians
#13-350 103rd Street East
Saskatoon, SK
S7N 1Z1
Ph. 1-306-652-0769
Fax. 1-306-652-0784
www.scoptic.ca
The College of Opticians of Ontario
#300 – 90 Adelaide St. West
Toronto, ON
M5H 3V9
Ph. 1-416-368-3616
Fax 1-416-368-2713
www.coptont.org
Nova Scotia College of Dispensing Opticians
Halifax Professional Centre
Suite 342, 5991 Spring Garden Road
Halifax, NS
B3H 1Y6
Ph. 1-902-425-7928
Fax. 1-902-425-0360
www.nscdo.ca
The Dispensing Opticians Board of Newfoundland and Labrador
P.O. Box 2552
St. Johns, NL
A1C 6K1
Ph. 1-709-579-2605
Fax. 1-709-579-2605
dispensingopticiansboardnl@nl.rogers.com
Alberta College & Association of Opticians
Suite 201, 2528 Ellwood Dr.
Edmonton, Alberta
T6X 0A9
Ph. 1-780-429-2694
Fax. 1-780-428-5576
www.acao.ca
The Opticians of Manitoba
215-1080 Portage Ave.
Winnipeg, MB
R3G 3M3
Ph. 1-204-222-8404
Toll Free: 1-855-346-3715
Fax. 1-204-222-5296
www.opticiansofmanitoba.ca
Ordre des Opticiens d’ordonnances du Québec
Suite 601, 630 Sherbrooke West
Montreal, Qc
H3A 1E4
Ph. 1-514-288-7542
Toll free 1-800-563-6345
www.opticien.qc.ca
Opticians Association of New Brunswick
P.O. Box 6743,
RPO Brunswick Square
Saint John, NB
E2L 4S2
Ph. 1-506-642-2878
Fax 1-506-642-7984
www.opticiansnb.com
P.E.I. Board of Dispensing Opticians
P.O. Box 20140, RPO Sherwood
Charlottetown, P.E.I.
C1A 9E3
What Happens After the NACOR Exam?
Once an applicant has successfully challenged the NACOR exam, they are considered eligible for registration across Canada.
Please visit the Registration Process page of this website for more information about how to register.
Each provincial regulatory body has a unique registration process, so you might also find it useful to contact the regulatory body in your province directly.