
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 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:
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:
Candidates must:
If the candidates are favourably evaluated at this stage they may continue on to complete a language fluency test.
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.
*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:
Written Assessment: February 3rd (full day)
Clinical Assessment: February 4th & 5th (half day)
NOTE: If you are re-sitting any portion of the PLA, please contact the IOBP office for registration information.
Registration:
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
Additional Information:
PLA registration is now closed
Those wishing to register for the PLA are required to:
Deb Nahlik
University of Waterloo School of Optometry
200 University Avenue W
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1
* subject to change
- Written Assessment: February 3rd (full day)
- Clinical Assessment: February 4th & 5th (half day)
- Start date: July 3rd 2012
- Start date to be determined
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.
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
Canada Wide
The IOBP services and programs are now recognized in every province of Canada.
- Canadian Examiners in Optometry (CEO) - Canadian Assessment of Competence in Optometry (CACO)
- Provincial Optometry Associations, Provincial Optometric Regulatory Authorities & Other Associations, Organizations and Links of Interest as provided by the CAO
- Citizenship and Immigration Canada
- The Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks
- Newcomers Waterloo Region Homepage
- Project Now - Newcomers Online Waterloo
Funded by:
![]()
Ontario receives support for some skills training programs from the Government of Canada