Important Notice
The International Optometric Bridging Program is currently in discussions with the various Canadian optometric regulatory bodies. This consultation process is intended to standardize the academic credential assessment and streamline the prior learning assessment process. Until these discussions are completed and in order to avoid possible duplication of services, the IOBP has temporarily suspended accepting any further applications for academic credential assessments or for the prior learning assessment.
It is expected that the discussions with the regulatory bodies will be concluded quickly. Anyone interested in the IOBP should check this website regularly for updates.
Are you an international optometric graduate looking to practice in Canada?
Frequently Asked Questions about the International Optometric Bridging Program
The University of Waterloo in collaboration with the College of Optometrists of Ontario is pleased to offer the International Optometric Bridging Program (IOBP).
Designed to provide optometrists educated outside Canada and the United States with a structured orientation to Canadian standards of optometric practice, the program will provide all qualified applicants with opportunities to gain the critical language, academic and clinical skills necessary for registration in all provinces of Canada.
This program is designed to prepare the applicants to move forward to the Canadian Standard Assessment in Optometry; the examinations necessary for registration to practice optometry in Canada.
NOTE: If you are interested in practice in Ontario, please see our latest Program news item, and check the College of Optometrists of Ontario website for further information prior to completing an application for the IOBP.
For internationally educated optometrists, the process begins with an application to the Bridging Progam:
A positive assessment in all three steps is necessary for applicants to be eligible to enter one of the Bridging Programs.
The candidate will be informed:
- if they are accepted into Bridging One, an eight week academic program,
- if they are accepted into Bridging Two, a year long structured academic program,
or
- if they are not accepted into either program.
NOTE: As the number of successful applicants exceeds the number of places available in the Bridging Program obtaining minimum admission scores does not guarantee placement in a program. Admission will be decided on a competitive basis.
Specific details are contained in the applicant information package below.
On the rest of this page:
Minimum requirements for the bridging programs
Academic Credential Assessment
For candidates applying to the IOBP in 2012 and beyond
Candidates must:
- be currently licensed or registered (or eligible to be licensed or registered) to practice optometry in the country where optometric education was completed, and
- have successfully completed either:
- 3 complete academic years of full-time1 undergraduate university study prior to entering an optometry school and a 4 year optometry degree,2 or
- a 4 year optometry degree2 followed by 3 years of optometric work experience outside Canada
Footnotes
- Full-time means 5 courses per four-month term or semester with two terms per year.
- For the purpose of this application, the following is accepted as equivalent to a 4 year optometry degree:
A 3 year optometry degree followed by a pre-registration year/period and successful completion of the final assessment. This pre-registration year/period must be endorsed by the country in which you obtained your degree.
For all candidates
If the candidates are favourably evaluated at this stage they may continue on to complete a language fluency test.
Language fluency
A standardized test of language fluency must be completed if the candidates' first language was not English. After discussions with administrators of other health professional bridging programs regarding success rates related to language, the accepted tests and minimum language requirements were agreed to as follows:
| Test |
Requirements |
| CLBPT |
Minimum overall average of 8.0 with no individual scores lower than 8.0 |
| Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks: Canadian Language Benchmarks Placement Test (CLBPT) |
| IELTS |
Academic, minimum overall average of 7.5 with no individual scores lower than 7.0 |
| International English Language Testing System: Test Takers Information |
| CanTest |
Minimum overall average of 4.5 with no individual scores lower than 4.0 |
| CanTEST, Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI), Faculty of Arts, University of Ottawa: CanTEST |
Applicants who just meet the minimum scores do struggle in the program as it is a challenge for them to understand, learn and speak optometry in a new language. Therefore, in fairness to our applicants, in the future we may need to increase the minimum language requirements for entry into the Bridging Programs.
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)
*Please note that the registration process and fees have changed*
Registration for both written and clinical assessments will now be administered by the IOBP.
Dates:
PLA registration is now closed
- Next PLA start date to be determined.
Expected reporting date for final results of the February PLA is April 16th, 2012
Registration:
- Dates will be posted once a PLA date has been determined.
Fee structure:
| Assessments |
Fees |
Bank draft or money order made payable, in Canadian Dollars, to:
|
| Written Assessment |
$1,200 |
Canadian Examiners in Optometry* |
| Clinical Assessment |
$650 |
uWaterloo School of Optometry* |
| Written Re-assessment (only applies to those resitting the PLA) |
$1,200 |
Canadian Examiners in Optometry* |
|
Clinical Re-assessment per skill set (only applies to those resitting the PLA)
|
$200 |
uWaterloo School of Optometry* |
*NOTE: Two separate bank drafts required
Program dates
- Credential Assessments: are performed year round, please allow 6 weeks for completion
- Prior Learning Assessments: currently* offered in February and August of each year. The number of registrants per PLA administration are limited and are accepted in the order that they are received.
- Bridging One: an eight week program, currently* offered in February and June of each year
- Bridging Two: a year long program, please contact the IOBP
* subject to change
The next Prior Learning Assessment:
- Start date to be determined
The next Bridging One Program:
- Start date: July 3rd 2012
The next Bridging Two Program:
- Start date to be determined
Application information package
An Application Information Package, in PDF form, is available detailing both the assessment process and the Bridging Programs.
We are very pleased to be of assistance to you throughout this process. For further information please don't hesitate to contact us by email.
IOBP contact information
Director: Murray Turnour OD, MSc
Administrative Coordinator: Deb Nahlik
E-mail contact form
(519) 888-4567 ext. 37882
Hours: 08:00–16:00 UTC-5 (8:00 am – 4:00 pm EST)
Fax: (519) 725-0784
International Optometric Bridging Program
School of Optometry and Vision Science
University of Waterloo
Waterloo Ontario N2L 3G1
Canada
Program news
Important Notice: The International Optometric Bridging Program is currently in discussions with the various Canadian optometric regulatory bodies. This consultation process is intended to standardize the academic credential assessment and streamline the prior learning assessment process. Until these discussions are completed and in order to avoid possible duplication of services, the IOBP has temporarily suspended accepting any further applications for academic credential assessments or for the prior learning assessment.
It is expected that the discussions with the regulatory bodies will be concluded quickly. Anyone interested in the IOBP should check this website regularly for updates.
ATTENTION NEW APPLICANTS
We have been advised by the College of Optometrists of Ontario that their registration policies have changed:
“As of March 1, 2012, the College will require that internationally educated optometric graduates, who are applicants for registration, have their credentials assessed by World Education Services (WES).”
For further information, please visit the College web site:
Applicants interested in practice in Ontario should send their documents for credential assessment to Word Education Services (WES) .
Related resources
University of Waterloo resources
Other Resources
Funded by:
Ontario receives support for some skills training programs from the Government of Canada
