Licensing Examination

NATIONAL LICENSING EXAMINATIONS

National Examination Background and Information

National Alliance of Canadian Optician Regulators (NACOR) developed the Optical Sciences 1 – Eyeglasses Examination and Optical Sciences 2 – Advanced Practice Contact Lens Examination as a vehicle to measure competencies of those individuals seeking entry to practice as an optician. The objective was to develop an examination that will be accepted across Canada.

Information about the National examination contents and the process can be obtained by calling the NACOR office at 1-866-949-1950 or by visiting NACOR.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible to take the NACOR Examination, candidates must have completed and passed an accreditated education program or gone through the proper process deemed appropriate by the Registration Committee.

In Saskatchewan, when a student member graduates from an accredited EG or CL optical program, a student licence is no longer valid, and the member must, therefore, apply for a restricted optician licence or restricted contact lens practitioner licence to continue to practice under supervision or to be eligible to sit the NACOR Licensing examination. For further information, please read the details for graduate students from accredited education waiting to sit the NACOR Licensing Examination on our New Member Registration page.

A student shall be permitted three attempts to pass the NACOR licensing examination in opticianry or contact lens technique. Where a person is unsuccessful on the third attempt, that person shall be required to take a further course of training approved by the council and upon completion shall be granted permission from the council to again take the NACOR licensing examination.

Where a person has completed the approved course and not attempted the NACOR examination for a period of three years, the person shall be required to take a future course of training approved by the council and upon completion shall again be granted permission from the council to take the NACOR licensing examination.

National Optical Sciences Examination Dates and Venues

Examination dates are subject to change

2025 Examination Dates

May 2-4, 2025
Location:
Application Deadline:

Georgian College, Barrie, Ontario
Friday, March 21, 2025

May 23-25, 2025
Location:
Application Deadline:

NAIT Main Campus, Edmonton, Alberta
Friday, April 25, 2025

May 31-June 1, 2025
Location:
Application Deadline:

Winnipeg, Manitoba
Friday, May 2, 2025

May 31-June 1,2025

Location:
Application Deadline:

June 6-8, 2025

French & English Examination
Location:
Application Deadline:

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Friday, May 2, 2025

New Brunswick Community College, Moncton, New Brunswick
Friday, May 2, 2025

June 20-22, 2025
Location:
Application Deadline:

Douglas College, David Lam Campus, Coquitlam, British Columbia
Friday, May 2, 2025

June 07-08, 2025
Location:
Application Deadline:

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Friday, May 2, 2025

September 19-21, 2025
Location:
Application Deadline:

SAIT Main Campus, Calgary, Alberta
Friday, August 22, 2025

October 17-19, 2025
Location:
Application Deadline:

Seneca Polytechnic, Newnham Campus, Toronto, Ontario
Friday, September 5, 2025

November 22-23, 2025
French & English Examination
Location:
Application Deadline:


Collège La Cité, Ottawa, Ontario
Friday, October 3, 2025