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In Saskatchewan, when a student member graduates from an accredited EG or CL optical program, a student licence is no longer valid, and the member must, therefore, apply for a restricted optician licence or restricted contact lens practitioner licence to continue to practice under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

NEW Online portal for direct NACOR Examination application:  

2026 Examination Dates

Dates and Locations - NACOR

 

 

October 23-25, 2026

 

 

 

November 20-22, 2026

French & English Exams

 

 

 

 

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

Location: Douglas College, Coquitlam, BC

Application Deadline:  Friday, December 4, 2026

 

February 19-21, 2027

Location:

 SAIT Main Campus, Calgary, Alberta

Application Deadline:

 Friday, January 15, 2027

 

April 30- May 2, 2027

Location:

 Seneca Polytechnic, Newnham Campus, North York, Ontario

Application Deadline:

 Friday, March 19, 2027

 

May 28-30, 2027

Location:

 NAIT Main Campus, Edmonton, Alberta

Application Deadline:

 Friday, April 23, 2027

 

June 5-6, 2027

Location:

 Winnipeg, Manitoba

Application Deadline:

 Friday, April 30, 2027

 

June 5-6, 2027

Location:

 Halifax, Nova Scotia

Application Deadline: 

Friday, April 30, 2027

 

June 11-13, 2027 (French & English Exams)

Location:

New Brunswick Community College, Moncton, New Brunswick

Application Deadline:

Friday, April 30, 2027

 

June 25-27, 2027

Location:

 Douglas College, Coquitlam, British Columbia

Application Deadline:

 Friday, April 30, 2027

 

September 17-19, 2027

Location:

 SAIT Main Campus, Calgary, Alberta

Application Deadline: 

Friday, August 13, 2027

 

October 15-17, 2027

Location:

 Seneca Polytechnic, Newnham Campus, North York, Ontario 

Application Deadline:

 Friday, September 3, 2027

 

November 12-14, 2027 (French & English Exams)

Location:

 Collège La Cité, Ottawa, Ontario

Application Deadline:

 Friday, October 1, 2027