Licensing guide · British Columbia

How to Become an Optician in British Columbia

Last checked 2 sources checkedNOC 32100

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC to work as an optician in British Columbia or to use a protected title.

Protected titles
optician
Show the source
“Only those individuals who are licensed with CHCPBC can use the title of “optician” in BC.”

From chcpbc.org/applicants/opticianry, checked October 11, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Licence required See the source
Routes
Annual fees
  • Licence fee, Full or Provisional class (a) Full year: $1,005
    Source
    “| (a) Full year | $770.00 | $745.00 | $1,165.00 | $720.00 | $1,005.00 | $1,195.00 | $875.00 | $1,630.00 | $1,000.00 |”
    chcpbc.org/legislation/fees
  • Licence renewal fee, Full or provisional class: $1,005
    Source
    “| Full or provisional class | $770.00 | $745.00 | $1,165.00 | $720.00 | $1,005.00 | $1,195.00 | $875.00 | $1,630.00 | $1,000.00 |”
    chcpbc.org/legislation/fees
  • Late renewal fee (between April 1 - 30 after failing to renew): $350 (between April 1 - 30 after failing to renew)
    Source
    “| Late renewal fee<br> (between April 1 - 30<br> after failing to renew) | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 |”
    chcpbc.org/legislation/fees

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • 3 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $2,010

  1. The applicant completes an accredited Canadian opticianry education program.

    Source
    “After completing an accredited program, a graduate may apply to write the National Optical Sciences Examinations administered by NACOR.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/opticianry

  2. The graduate applies to write the National Optical Sciences Examinations administered by NACOR.

    Source
    “After completing an accredited program, a graduate may apply to write the National Optical Sciences Examinations administered by NACOR.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/opticianry

  3. Upon passing the exams, the graduate applies for opticianry licensure with CHCPBC by completing and submitting an application.

    Source
    “Upon passing the exams, they may apply for opticianry licensure with CHCPBC by completing and submitting an application.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/opticianry

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with CHCPBC

3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $2,010 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.

  • Licence fee, Full or Provisional class (a) Full year: $1,005
    Source
    “| (a) Full year | $770.00 | $745.00 | $1,165.00 | $720.00 | $1,005.00 | $1,195.00 | $875.00 | $1,630.00 | $1,000.00 |”
    chcpbc.org/legislation/fees
  • Licence renewal fee, Full or provisional class: $1,005
    Source
    “| Full or provisional class | $770.00 | $745.00 | $1,165.00 | $720.00 | $1,005.00 | $1,195.00 | $875.00 | $1,630.00 | $1,000.00 |”
    chcpbc.org/legislation/fees
  • Late renewal fee (between April 1 - 30 after failing to renew): $350 (between April 1 - 30 after failing to renew)
    Source
    “| Late renewal fee<br> (between April 1 - 30<br> after failing to renew) | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 |”
    chcpbc.org/legislation/fees

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • 2 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $2,010

  1. The labour mobility applicant completes and submits an application to CHCPBC.

    Source
    “you’ll just need to complete and submit an application, then await further instruction.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/opticianry

  2. After submitting the application, the applicant awaits further instruction from the College.

    Source
    “you’ll just need to complete and submit an application, then await further instruction.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/opticianry

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with CHCPBC

2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $2,010 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.

  • Licence fee, Full or Provisional class (a) Full year: $1,005
    Source
    “| (a) Full year | $770.00 | $745.00 | $1,165.00 | $720.00 | $1,005.00 | $1,195.00 | $875.00 | $1,630.00 | $1,000.00 |”
    chcpbc.org/legislation/fees
  • Licence renewal fee, Full or provisional class: $1,005
    Source
    “| Full or provisional class | $770.00 | $745.00 | $1,165.00 | $720.00 | $1,005.00 | $1,195.00 | $875.00 | $1,630.00 | $1,000.00 |”
    chcpbc.org/legislation/fees
  • Late renewal fee (between April 1 - 30 after failing to renew): $350 (between April 1 - 30 after failing to renew)
    Source
    “| Late renewal fee<br> (between April 1 - 30<br> after failing to renew) | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 |”
    chcpbc.org/legislation/fees

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • 5 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $2,010
  • Listed time: 0.2 to 0.5 months (only 1 of 5 steps state a time)

  1. The applicant applies to complete the PLAR process and completes a series of tests.

    Source
    “PLAR candidates complete a series of tests.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/opticianry

  2. PLAR results are sent to NACOR and candidates receive their results, on average, within one to two weeks of completing their final test.

    Time: 1 to 2 weeks
    Time source
    “On average, candidates receive results within 1–2 weeks of completing their final test.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/opticianry
    Source
    “PLAR results are sent NACOR. On average, candidates receive results within 1–2 weeks of completing their final test.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/opticianry

  3. If the PLAR results indicate additional learning is required, the candidate completes assigned online learning modules and passes each module's post-test.

    Source
    “If a candidate requires additional learning (as indicated by the PLAR results), they will be assigned online learning modules. Instructions for accessing modules will be included with the results. Each module is accompanied by a short online “post-test” to confirm comprehension. The candidate must pass the post-test to complete the module.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/opticianry

  4. Once testing and any required learning are complete, the candidate takes the national licensing examination(s), applying directly to NACOR.

    Source
    “Once the testing and required learning are complete, candidates take the national licensing examination(s) and apply to be licensed in BC.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/opticianry

  5. The candidate applies for licensure with CHCPBC by completing and submitting an application.

    Source
    “The first step in the licensing process is completing and submitting an application.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/opticianry

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with CHCPBC

5 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $2,010 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.

  • Licence fee, Full or Provisional class (a) Full year: $1,005
    Source
    “| (a) Full year | $770.00 | $745.00 | $1,165.00 | $720.00 | $1,005.00 | $1,195.00 | $875.00 | $1,630.00 | $1,000.00 |”
    chcpbc.org/legislation/fees
  • Licence renewal fee, Full or provisional class: $1,005
    Source
    “| Full or provisional class | $770.00 | $745.00 | $1,165.00 | $720.00 | $1,005.00 | $1,195.00 | $875.00 | $1,630.00 | $1,000.00 |”
    chcpbc.org/legislation/fees
  • Late renewal fee (between April 1 - 30 after failing to renew): $350 (between April 1 - 30 after failing to renew)
    Source
    “| Late renewal fee<br> (between April 1 - 30<br> after failing to renew) | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $350.00 |”
    chcpbc.org/legislation/fees

Official page for this route

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

  • Corporate registry letter fee: $125
    Source
    “Corporate registry letter fee | $125.00 | $125.00 | $125.00 | $125.00 | $125.00”
    chcpbc.org/legislation/fees
  • Application fee for full or provisional class: $380
    Source
    “| For full or provisional<br> class | $380.00 | $380.00 | $380.00 | $380.00 | $380.00 | $380.00 | $380.00 | $380.00 | $380.00 |”
    chcpbc.org/legislation/fees
  • Licence fee, Full or Provisional class (b) Half-year (on or after October 1): $653 (on or after October 1)
    Source
    “| (b) Half-year (on or<br> after October 1) | $501.00 | $484.00 | $757.00 | $468.00 | $653.00 | $777.00 | $569.00 | $1,060.00 | $650.00 |”
    chcpbc.org/legislation/fees
  • Licence fee, Temporary class: $200
    Source
    “| Temporary class | $200.00 | $200.00 | $200.00 | $200.00 | $200.00 | $200.00 | $200.00 | $200.00 | $200.00 |”
    chcpbc.org/legislation/fees
  • Continuing professional development late completion fee: $150
    Source
    “| Late completion fee | $150.00 | $150.00 | $150.00 | $150.00 | $150.00 | $150.00 | $150.00 | $150.00 | $150.00 |”
    chcpbc.org/legislation/fees

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

  • Applicants must have completed an accredited Canadian opticianry education program or, if internationally educated, complete the PLAR process.

    Source
    “After completing an accredited program, a graduate may apply to write the National Optical Sciences Examinations administered by NACOR.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/opticianry

Police check

  • Every registrant must complete a criminal record check through the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General at initial registration and every five years thereafter.

    Source
    “The Criminal Records Review Act requires that every registrant of CHCPBC complete a criminal record check at the time of initial registration and every five years thereafter. CHCPBC does not accept criminal record checks completed by the RCMP—only those completed through the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/opticianry

Other

  • Canadian graduates must complete their examinations and apply for licensure with CHCPBC within three years of their graduation date.

    Source
    “Graduates must complete their examinations and apply for licensure with CHCPBC within three years of their graduation date.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/opticianry

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

An optician licensed in another Canadian province can apply as a labour mobility applicant and is not required to complete any additional training or examinations before becoming registered.

Source
“You won’t be required to complete any additional training or examinations before becoming registered—you’ll just need to complete and submit an application, then await further instruction.”
chcpbc.org/applicants/opticianry

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with CHCPBC

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with CHCPBC

Exams

  • National Optical Sciences 1 – Eyeglasses Examination

    Source
    “The National Optical Sciences 1 – Eyeglasses Examination and the National Optical Sciences 2 – Advanced Practice Contact Lens Examination are required for those who wish to be licensed as an optician in BC.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/opticianry

  • National Optical Sciences 2 – Advanced Practice Contact Lens Examination

    Source
    “The National Optical Sciences 1 – Eyeglasses Examination and the National Optical Sciences 2 – Advanced Practice Contact Lens Examination are required for those who wish to be licensed as an optician in BC.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/opticianry

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with CHCPBC

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with CHCPBC

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with CHCPBC

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 32100, Opticians. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in British Columbia and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
British Columbia $22.00 $30.82 $38.46 Moderate (3 of 5)
Canada $17.80 $28.50 $39.40 —

Wages by region and job outlook in British Columbia

Wages in every province and territory

Opticians in other provinces and territories

Regulated in 9 of the other 12 jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare optician licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 11, 2026.

  1. Opticianry | CHCPBC chcpbc.org/applicants/opticianry · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Fees | CHCPBC chcpbc.org/legislation/fees · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as an optician in British Columbia?

Yes. Registration with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC is required to practise in British Columbia, and to use the title optician.

Which exams are required?

National Optical Sciences 1 – Eyeglasses Examination, National Optical Sciences 2 – Advanced Practice Contact Lens Examination.

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