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In Saskatchewan, when a student member graduates from an accredited EG or CL optical program, a student licence is no longer valid, and the member must, therefore, apply for a restricted optician licence or restricted contact lens practitioner licence to continue to practice under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
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
2027 Examination Dates
January 22-24, 2027
February 19-21, 2027
April 30- May 2, 2027
May 28-30, 2027
June 5-6, 2027
June 5-6, 2027
June 11-13, 2027
June 11-13, 2027
June 25-27, 2027
September 17-19, 2027
October 15-17, 2027
November 12-14, 2027
Location: British Columbia (Douglas)
Location: Alberta (SAIT)
Location: Ontario (Georgian)
Location: Alberta (NAIT)
Location: Manitoba
Location: Nova Scotia
Location: New Brunswick (NBCC) * French & English
Location: Saskatchewan
Location: British Columbia (Douglas)
Location: Alberta (SAIT)
Location: Ontario (Seneca)
Location: Ontario (La Cite) * French & English
