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In Saskatchewan, when a student member graduates from an accredited EG or CL optical program, a student licence is no longer valid, and the member must, therefore, apply for a restricted optician licence or restricted contact lens practitioner licence to continue to practice under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

2026 Examination Dates


2026 Examination Dates

January 23-25, 2026



Location: Douglas College, David Lam Campus, Coquitlam, BC

Application Deadline: Friday, December 5, 2025

 

February 20-22, 2026

Location: SAIT Main Campus, Calgary Alberta

Application Deadline: Friday, January 16, 2026

 

May 1-3, 2026

 

Location:  Seneca Polytechnic, Toronto, Ontario
Application Deadline: Friday, March 20, 2026

May 22-24, 2026

Location: NAIT Main Campus, Edmonton, Alberta
Application Deadline: Friday, April 24, 2026

 

May 30-31, 2026

Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Application Deadline: Friday, May 1, 2026

 

May 30-31, 2026

Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Application Deadline: Friday, May 1, 2026

 

June 5-7, 2026

French & English Exams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 26-28, 2026

 

 

September 11-13, 2026

 

 

October 23-25, 2026

 

 

 

November 20-22, 2026

French & English Exams

Location: New Brunswick Community College, Moncton, New Brunswick
Application Deadline: Friday, May 1, 2026

 

 

 

Location: Douglas College, David Lam Campus, Coquitlam, BC
Application Deadline: Friday, May 1, 2026

 

Location: SAIT Main Campus, Calgary, Alberta
Application Deadline: Friday, August 7, 2026

 

Location: Georgian College, Barrie, Ontario
Application Deadline:  Friday, September 11, 2026

 

Location: Collège La Cité, Ottawa, Ontario
Application Deadline: Friday, October 9, 2026