What are the National Examinations for Canadian Opticians?
The National Examinations for Canadian Opticians are administered by NACOR on behalf of the provincial regulatory authorities and are used in every province except Quebec. These examinations are the final step in becoming an optician in Canada. There are two national competency examinations, one for eyeglass dispensing and one for contact lens dispensing.
Effective March 1, 2025, both the Eyeglasses and Contact Lens examinations have been updated. While the national competencies assessed in the exams will remain unchanged, there will be adjustments to some sections of the exams. These revisions are designed to enhance the overall examination experience and ensure that the evaluation system continues to meet the highest standards required by our profession and provincial regulators.
QUEBEC
To learn more about how to become an optician in Quebec, refer to the Ordre des opticiens d’ordonnances du Québec website.
Ordre des opticiens d’ordonnances du QuébecYou can sit the national examination(s) if you have:
OR
AND
You don’t have to wait to receive confirmation from your school that you have graduated to apply. You don’t have to wait for confirmation from your provincial regulatory authority to apply. The only way to be sure you are registered for the national exam(s) is to submit your application prior to the application deadline.