New Member Registration

Four Types of Applicants

When registering with the SCO, applicants will generally fall under one of the four types listed below. Please read each one to determine which type of applicant you are and the documentation required when submitting an application to the SCO.

Nationally Registered Applicants

Applicants licensed in another province or territory in Canada who are in good standing with their current provincial regulatory college can apply for registration with the SCO under the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA). Opticianry regulators from each province in Canada have worked together to create the MRA. The MRA allows opticians from participating provinces to easily move across the country, as the opticians all meet the same standards. Please note, applicants must submit the following:

Graduates from Accredited Education

Applicants who graduate from an accredited opticianry program and have passed the NACOR Licensing examination can apply for registration with the SCO by submitting the following:

Graduate Students from Accredited Education Waiting to sit the NACOR Licensing Examination

In Saskatchewan, when a student member graduates from an accredited EG or CL optical program, a student licence is no longer valid, and the member must, therefore, apply for a restricted optician licence or restricted contact lens practitioner licence to continue to practice under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

  • Proof of Liability Insurance with a minimum of $1 million in coverage
  • Passport Photo
  • Criminal Record Check
  • Completed Supervisor Agreement Form
  • Completed Application Form
  • Required fees

Non-Accredited Education Applicants

International applicants who have completed education related to opticianry or graduates of an unaccredited opticianry school in Canada interested in applying for PLAR may be accepted for admission if they have a combination of knowledge, skills, experience, and abilities which are substantially equivalent to the requirements set out in the SCO Bylaws for new applicants.

Accepted applicants will complete the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition process (PLAR). The National Alliance of Optician Regulators (NACOR) now administers PLAR on behalf of the SCO. For further information on the PLAR process and the PLAR Application Package, visit the NACOR website by clicking on the following link NACOR-PLAR.

Once you have registered and have been accepted for PLAR through NACOR, you can apply for registration with the SCO. Applicants living in Saskatchewan pursuing employment in the optical field while completing PLAR and qualify, may be granted a restricted licence to practice under supervision. All PLAR applicants will be required to pass the NACOR National Examination for eyeglasses and or contact lenses after completing the PLAR process. Please note, applicants must meet the English language requirements of the SCO.

The following are required for licensure under a restricted licence:

Please contact the SCO office for further information on restricted licences.