Internationally Educated Candidates: Applications received January 1, 2007 and onwards

Applicants seeking registration as Opticians in the province of Ontario who have been educated and/or licensed outside of Canada must first submit a written request to the College. An application package will be provided requesting the following information:

1. Information about the applicant’s professional background;
2. Information about any licensing examination the applicant successfully completed in order to be allowed to practice in their home country (if applicable);
3. Dispensing experience and number of fittings Information;
4. Information about the applicant’s educational background – an assessment of the applicant’s academic credentials and a comparison to Ontario educational standards from WES (World Education Services) or University of Toronto, Comparative Education Service (CES). A course-by-course evaluation is required. The cost of the assessment is the responsibility of the applicant.
5. The applicant must provide a copy of any documents submitted to WES or CES to the College, as well as detailed descriptions of the applicant’s program of study (total number of lecture hours, course objective and format, method of evaluation, etc.).
6. An applicant must be able to speak and write either English or French with reasonable fluency. If the applicant’s primary language is not English or French, and if the applicant graduated from a school / university where the language of instruction is not English or French, the applicant must demonstrate proficiency by:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) & Test of Spoken English (TSE):

• a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test and of 220 on the computer-based test is required on the TOEFL; and
• a minimum score of 50 is required of the TSE

For more information on the TOEFL or the TSE, please contact:

TOEFL/TSE Services
PO Box 6151
Princeton, New Jersey 08547-6151
Tel: 609-771-7100
Fax: 609-771-7500
E-mail: toefl@ets.org
website: www.toefl.org

The cost of the assessment is the responsibility of the applicant.

WES may be contacted at:

World Education Services
45 Charles Street East, Suite 700
Toronto, ON. M4Y 1S2
Tel: 416-972-0070, 866-343-0070
Fax: 416-972-9004
E-mail: canada@wes.org

University of Toronto may be contacted at:

University or Toronto
Comparative Education Service
Admissions and Awards
315 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON. M5S 1A3
Tel: 416-978-2185
Fax: 416-978-7022

The Registrar refers the applications to the Registration Committee of this College. The Committee will consider the applicant’s:

1. International education;
2. Professional experience;
3. License to practice in their home country;
4. Licensing examination enabling them to practice in their home country;
5. Continuing education information;
6. Other pertinent information relating to registration as an Optician in Ontario.

After consideration of all material submitted, the Committee may direct the Registrar to:

1. Request the applicant undergo an assessment of their prior learning and experience. This is done by way of assessment testing which is not an exam, but a tool for the Committee to verify that the applicant’s current level of knowledge and skill in the practice of Opticianry is comparable to applicants educated in Ontario. Should the applicant be successful at the assessment test, he/she may proceed to attempt the National Registration Examination. Upon successful completion of this examination, the applicant is eligible to apply for a certificate of registration as an Optician. Unsuccessful assessment test candidates will be directed by the Committee regarding additional training.
2. Direct the applicant to attempt the National Registration Examination. Upon successful completion of this examination, the applicant is eligible to apply for a certificate of registration as an Optician.
3. Refuse to issue a certificate of registration to the applicant.

At the time of registration, the applicant must be either a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant or holder of a valid employment authorization.

The Registration Committee has developed a flow-chart that outlines the process outlined above.