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Registration Requirements

Certificates of registration are issued for the following registration classes:
  • Opticians
  • Intern Opticians
  • Student Opticians

A Registered Optician may dispense, fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses or subnormal vision devices based on the prescription of an optometrist, ophthalmologist or medical doctor. Ontario does not have separate licensing for eyeglasses and contact lenses.

A Registered Student Optician and a Registered Intern Optician may dispense eyeglasses, contact lenses or sub-normal vision devices only under supervision or direction of a registered optician, optometrist or ophthalmologist who is physically present in the place in which the dispensing takes place at the time it takes place.

Registration Regulation under the Opticianry Act, 1991

Requirements for All Classes

  1. The applicant must provide details of any conviction for a criminal offence or an offence related to the practice of opticianry, a finding or a current proceeding for professional misconduct, incompetency or incapacity in Ontario or any other jurisdiction.
  2. The applicant must have Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status, or authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada).
  3. The applicant must be able to speak and write English or French.
  4. The applicant must pay the required registration fee.

Registered Opticians – Educated in Ontario

The following are non-exemptible (apply with no exceptions) registration requirements for a certificate of registration as an Optician:
  1. Successful completion and graduation from one of the recognized opticianry programs; or from a program that is deemed equivalent.
  2. Alternatively, the applicant must satisfy the Registration Committee that he/she has a level of knowledge and skill in the practice of opticianry that is equivalent to that acquired by graduates of the programs referred to above (by undergoing an assessment of his / her prior learning and experience).
  3. The applicant must have successfully completed registration examinations.
  4. The applicant must have completed at least 1,000 hours of verified dispensing experience.

In addition:

  1. The applicant must be registered as an Intern Optician at the time of application;
  2. The applicant must have completed at least:
  1. 250 eye glasses fittings, including 100 multifocal fittings and 25 high myopic or hyperopic fittings under the supervision or direction of a Registered Optician, an Optometrists or an Ophthalmologist.
  2. 20 contact lens fittings, including at least 5 rigid gas permeable contact lens fittings under the supervision or direction of a Registered Optician who is either a certified contact lens fitter, or a contact lens mentor (for rigid or soft contact lens fittings); an Optometrist or an Ophthalmologist.

Registered Student Opticians

In order to obtain and keep a certificate of registration a Student Optician must be enrolled in an approved Ontario opticianry program or be in the process of completing additional training, as ordered by the Registration Committee of the College of Opticians.

Registered Intern Opticians

In order to obtain a certificate of registration an Intern Optician must have successfully completed and graduated from an approved Opticianry program or have completed any additional training as ordered by the Registration Committee of the College of Opticians.

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

  ©2006 College of Opticians of Ontario