How to Become an Optometrist in Canada

If you are fascinated with how the eyes work, a career in optometry may be your calling.

A Doctor of Optometry, more commonly referred to as an optometrist, is a professional in the health care field who provides the testing, correction, diagnosis, and treatment of eye-related conditions. The practice of optometry is regulated in most countries, including Canada. Optometrists in Canada earn an average of $70,000 to $80,000 (CAD) annually, according to the University of Waterloo. The road to becoming an optometrist usually takes around seven or eight years of study.

Instructions

1. Take as many math and science courses as you can in high school. Advanced math and science skills early on are crucial for college courses you will need ti take.

2. Consult with your high school counselor on options for Bachelor of Science programs at different universities. They can provide insight into the best post-secondary education options and they can get you prepared by suggesting the best courses for you to take.

3. Enroll in a university Bachelor of Science program. This is a requirement for acceptance into an optometry program in Canada.

4. Fulfill your university requirements and the prerequisites for optometry school. Entrance into a Canadian optometry program will require certain courses that must be taken during your bachelor program. It is crucial that you make the highest grades possible in these courses.

5. Take the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT). This is a requirement for all optometry school candidates in North America. Arrange for these scores to be sent to the optometry school you plan to attend.

6. Apply to an optometry school. University of Waterloo has the only English-speaking optometry program in Canada. The other school, Université de Montréal, is French-speaking.

7. Complete the four-year optometry program. The programs are a mixture of education and hands-on training.

8. Pass the national exam for the optometry area(s) in which you wish to practice after graduation.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are from outside of Canada, you will need to follow additional steps to reside in Canada as a student.

References

• University of Waterloo: Prospective Optometry Students, Optometry as a Career

Resources

• University of Waterloo: School of Optometry