Optometrists (NOC 3121)

Education, training & qualifications

• Three years of university undergraduate studies in mathematics and sciences
  and
  A four-year university program in optometry are required.
• Licensing by the provincial or territorial regulatory governing body is required.

Optometrists who are certified for that occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.

For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.

Contact the College of Optometrists of BC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.

For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.

View a list of B.C. occupational regulators.

For more information about programs offered specifically for this career, visit EducationPlannerBC.