On this page:
- Canadian-Educated Candidates
- Internationally or Alternatively Educated Candidates
- Provincial Regulatory Authority Eligibility Requirements
- Failing an Examination - Future Eligibility
Canadian-Educated Candidates
Canadian-educated candidates who wish to attempt either national examination must be a graduate of an appropriate entry-to practice optician program that has been granted accreditation status by Accreditation Canada. Canadian-educated candidates must demonstrate to NACOR that they have successfully completed an accredited optician program. Canadian-educated candidates must also demonstrate successful completion of any additional eligibility requirements of their provincial regulatory authority. Once a candidate has indicated on their application form which regulatory authority they will be registered with, NACOR will confirm with the regulator that they satisfy this criterion.
Internationally or alternatively educated candidates who wish to attempt either national examination must demonstrate that they have undergone the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) process and successfully completed any bridging modules required by their provincial regulatory authority. Internationally or alternatively educated candidates must also demonstrate successful completion of any additional eligibility requirements of their provincial regulatory authority. Once a candidate has indicated on their application form which regulatory authority they will be registered with, NACOR will confirm with the regulator that they satisfy this criterion.
A candidate is entitled to challenge each examination a maximum of three times. After the third and each ensuing unsuccessful attempt, the candidate must comply with an approved upgrade plan as specified by their provincial regulatory authority before any further challenge of the examination will be permitted.