Please note that the terms “member” and “registrant” are used interchangeably throughout our website

Applicants

Optometrists who wish to practise in Ontario are required to register with the College. To register, you must meet the requirements set by the College. In this section, you’ll find information about the registration process for both North American and internationally educated graduates.

If you require accommodations for special needs or would prefer to communicate in French, we’re happy to assist you. Si vous avez des besoins particuliers ou souhaitez communiquer en français, le Collège se fera un plaisir de vous accommoder. Contactez nous par couriel ou tel 416-479-9295 ou sans frais au (833) 402-4819.

65 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 900, Toronto, ON M4T 2Y3

Email: registration @ collegeoptom.on.ca

Phone: 416-479-9295

Toll-Free: 1-833-402-4819

The Application Process

  1. To register with the College, you must follow one pathway for either: a) the General or; b) the Academic certificate of registration and decide whether you wish to practise or be inactive in Ontario and complete the following steps:
  2. Meet the academic requirement
  3. Write the entry-to-practice exam (if applicable)
  4. Submit your online application which includes the application fee and supporting documents
  5. Pass the Ontario Optometric Jurisprudence Exam
  6. Complete the administrative requirements: Pay the pro-rated annual membership fee and complete the required administrative forms

Some steps can be completed at the same time, or in a different order, depending on the time of the year and exam schedules. For example:

  • You may submit your application before or after challenging the approved entry-to-practice exam.
  • Supporting documents can be uploaded as they become available.

The following flow charts illustrate the application process for a General, Academic, or Inactive Certificate of Registration, as well as the Pre-Registration process for International Optometric Graduates:

General Certificate Button
Academic Certificate Button
International Graduates Button

Classes of Registration

Optometrists who wish to practise in Ontario are required to register with the College. There are four classes of membership with the College: (1) General, (2) Academic, (3) Inactive, and (4) Emergency, O. Reg. 837/93, s. 1; O. Reg. 294/23, s. 1; O. Reg. 184/25, s. 1. All registrants belong to one of the following registration classes, based on their academic and practise qualifications:

  1. General Class
    • If you wish to practise optometry in Ontario, you must hold a General Certificate of Registration issued by the College of Optometrists of Ontario. Applicants can be graduates of accredited optometry schools, internationally trained, or using labour mobility (optometrists in good standing who are licensed to practise in other Canadian provinces/territories), and wish to practise optometry independently in Ontario. Most registrants fall under the General Class.
  2. Academic Class
    • Applicants who hold an appointment as a professor, lecturer, resident, supervising clinician or graduate student at the School of Optometry of the University of Waterloo, or another university or optometric educational facility in Ontario approved by the Council. Registrants in the Academic Class cannot practise outside their academic role unless they request to switch their class to General Certificate of Registration, have completed registration requirements specified by the College, and have been approved by the College to change their certificate of registration to a General certificate of registration.
  3. Inactive Class
    • The new Registration Regulation amendments were brought into force as of September 1, 2025. Members of the Inactive Class are registrants who hold General or Academic certificates of registration and who have completed the Acknowledgment and Undertaking to transfer to the Inactive Class and they are not practising in Ontario. It allows them to ensure the delivery of high-quality eye care in the public interest. Registrants in the Inactive Class cannot practise in Ontario unless they request to switch their class to General Certificate of Registration, have completed a Return to Practise Form, and have been approved to begin to practise by the College.
  4. Emergency Class
    • Applicants can only apply to the Emergency Class if the provincial government makes the request due to emergency circumstances, or if the College Council decides that such an emergency exists and that issuing these certificates is in the public’s best interest.

Submitting Documents and Timelines

Detailed information regarding documents and timelines are included in each application package.

  • Applications remain open for up to 2 years from the dates the College receives the application fee payments and declaration form
  • Most applicants complete the registration process in less than a year
  • Submitted documents are reviewed within 5 business days. The College communicates with applicants at each stage to confirm which requirements are met or are still outstanding.
  • It may take up to 10 business days to finalize registration following the receipt of the pro-rated membership fee, as well as all required administrative requirements.

Registration Decisions and Appeals

Initially, the Registrar considers each application for registration. If the Registrar is satisfied that all of the registration requirements have been met, the applicant is issued a Certificate of Registration. If the Registrar has doubts about whether the applicant meets the requirements for registration, or if the Registrar intends to refuse the application or to attach terms, conditions or limitations to the Certificate of Registration, the application is referred to the Registration Committee. The applicant has the right to submit a written submission for the Committee’s consideration with respect to their application. If the applicant is not satisfied with the Registration Committee’s decision, they may appeal the decision to the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board. The Board’s decision may be further appealed to Divisional Court.

Ready to take the next step? Watch the registration video and head over to our Apply Now – Applicant Portal page to get started!

Related FAQs

  • Applications for registration are open for a maximum of two years from the date they are received by the College. Most applicants are able to complete the application process and become registered with the College in less than one year.

  • Applications for registration are valid for a maximum of two years (24 months) from the date the application is received by the College. The two-year application period automatically ends when you have successfully completed the requirements for registration. The two-year timeline is provided only to give applicants adequate time to complete the registration requirements, not to allow successful applicants to delay the date they register. It is important to note that, regardless of the two-year application period, the Ontario Optometric Jurisprudence Examination must be successfully completed within 12 months of applying for registration.

  • A notarized copy of a document or photograph is one that has been reviewed by a Notary Public who has stamped the copy or photograph with his/her seal and then signed and dated it. A notarized copy is a legal copy of your original document.

  • Applicants who are registered to practise in another Canadian jurisdiction must submit a Certificate of Standing/Letter of Good Standing. It may be submitted at any time during the application process, unless the applicant is applying under labour mobility provisions, in which case it must be submitted either with the application or shortly thereafter. However, it must be dated within six months of the applicant becoming registered. If you take more than six months to become registered after submitting a Certificate of Standing/Letter of Good Standing, an updated Certificate of Standing/Letter of Good Standing will be required to complete your application.

  • No. A Certificate of Standing/Letter of Good Standing must be sent to the College directly from the issuing body (the regulator) and must be dated no more than six months before your Certificate of Registration is issued and activated

  • You may apply for your billing number after your Certificate of Registration is issued and activated.

  • If the Registration Committee implements a new policy that affects applicants for registration, an individual who has already submitted an application for registration will be informed of the change and would generally be permitted to complete their application under the policies that were in effect at the time their application was submitted, or under the new policies, whichever is least onerous. However, if there is a change to the Registration Regulation that affects applicants for registration, it will apply to all applicants regardless when they submitted their application form.

  • The College only accepts accredited programs accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE).  The onus is on applicants for registration to check directly with ACOE about whether an ACOE program is accredited.

  • No. After completing the registration requirements, you will need to complete various administrative tasks before you can start working as an optometrist in Ontario. For example, the College will need to receive confirmation of your professional liability insurance directly from your insurer if you are intending to practise as an optometrist in Ontario.

  • An applicant for registration is referred for a practice assessment or practice evaluation if it has been more than three years since they successfully completed the entry-to-practice examination. In some cases, an applicant may have to undergo both processes to ensure they are competent to practise optometry in Ontario in accordance with the standards of practice.

    The Registration Committee is often unable to determine an applicant’s competence using the results of a practice assessment alone. Therefore, to avoid having an applicant incur the costs and additional time associated with two processes, it is recommended that the applicant undergo a practice evaluation at the onset.

    If the applicant is found to have deficiencies, the Registration Committee may make recommendations for the applicant to meet the standards of practice set in Ontario.

  • Effective January 1, 2023, the following language proficiency tests are acceptable for internationally educated graduates: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General; International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General; Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada (TEF Canada); and Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada).  On January 30, 2024, the Pearson Test of English (PTE) was also added as an acceptable language proficiency test for internationally educated graduates.  Please refer to the following updated language test equivalency charts from the federal government:

    Language test equivalency charts – Canada.ca

  • Candidates for registration with the College are permitted to practise under delegation before becoming registered with the College.  Please refer to section 4.3 Delegation and Assignment of the Optometric Practice Reference (OPR): Standards of Practice – College of Optometrists of Ontario

    The delegating optometrist must be physically on site (i.e. in that practice location) when the candidate is practising under delegation.  They take full responsibility for the candidate providing the optometry services and must be available to intervene if necessary.

    It must be clear to patients booking an appointment that the candidate is practising under delegation. Consent is required from each patient, with the delegation noted in the patient’s health record.

    The candidate must not be presented as an optometrist until they are registered and able to practise independently.

    Please feel free to discuss this further with a practice advisor who can be reached at practiceadvisor@collegeoptom.on.ca