How to apply

Step 1: Equivalence determination

If you completed your education in Optometry through what the CHCPBC Bylaws define as a Recognized Education Program—and, if applicable to your profession, a Recognized Program of Practical Training—you are not required to provide any evidence of substantial equivalence. You can proceed directly to the next step.

If you do not see your education and/or practical training program listed in Schedule 5 of the CHCPBC Bylaws, you may need to complete additional assessments to confirm that your skills and knowledge are equivalent to those of someone who graduated from a Recognized program. Visit the Optometry equivalency determination page for more information.

Step 2: Eligibility

Determine which class of licensure you are eligible for.

• Full licensure requires successful completion of one or more entry-to-practice examinations.

• Provisional licensure (once granted) allows you to begin supervised practice while you are still waiting to complete your exams, as long as you have successfully completed either:
  • A Recognized Education Program (and Recognized Program of Practical Training, if applicable to your profession), or
  • An equivalency determination.

Please note that a Provisional licensee may only work under the supervision of a Full licensee approved by CHCPBC. You can initiate the approval process by completing and submitting a Supervision Agreement (PDF). Visit the Provisional licensure page for more information.

Step 3: English language proficiency

If you completed a Recognized Education Program that was delivered in English (including all academic learning and clinical practice) within the last 5 years, you are not required to provide any further evidence of English language proficiency. You can proceed directly to the next step.

If your education was not delivered in English and you have not practised in an English-speaking jurisdiction in the last 5 years, you must provide evidence of English language proficiency through an approved English test. Arrange to have your test scores sent directly to CHCPBC by the testing agency.

Visit the English language proficiency page for more information.

Step 4: Evidence of qualifying education and training

Arrange for your educational institution(s) to send official transcripts of your qualifying education to CHCPBC.

If your educational institution does not appear on CHCPBC’s Recognized Education Program list, you must also complete credential evaluation through any of the following organizations:

• International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS)
• International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)
• International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)
• World Education Services (WES)

Arrange to have your credential evaluation report(s) sent directly to CHCPBC by the credential evaluation organization.

Step 5: Verification of licensure in other jurisdictions

If you have ever been licensed as a healthcare professional (in any regulated profession, in Canada or outside of Canada), you must provide documentation of that licensure.

To do so:

• Download the Certificate of Standing form (PDF)
• Complete Section 1 of the form
• Send the form to all regulatory authorities with whom you are currently or were previously licensed, and request that they:
  • Complete Section 2
  • Email the completed form to licensure@chcpbc.org

Please note that we cannot accept Verification of Licensure forms submitted by applicants. A regulatory authority must send the completed form directly to CHCPBC within the 60 days prior to your application submission. CHCPBC may also accept Verification of Licensure in the form preferred by the submitting regulatory authority.

If you have never been licensed as a professional in another jurisdiction, you can proceed directly to the next step.

Step 6: Entry-to-practice examination

Two entry-to-practice examinations are offered for Optometry: the Optometry Examining Board of Canada (OEBC) Examination and the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) Examination*.

• To apply for Full licensure as an optometrist with CHCPBC, you must provide evidence that you have successfully completed one of these exams.
• To apply for Provisional licensure, you must provide evidence that you have registered for the next available administration of the OEBC Examination.

* Completion of the NBEO Examination is acceptable for CHCPBC licensure only if you initiated the examination process before March 12, 2025. For more information, see NBEO Exam no longer accepted for optometry licensure in BC.

Step 7: Professional liability insurance

Obtain professional liability insurance in an amount of at least $2 million per claim or occurrence.

Coverage provided by an employer may be acceptable, as long as it meets CHCPBC bylaw requirements. Alternatively, many professionals obtain their coverage through a professional association or private insurance provider.

Visit the Professional liability insurance page for more information.

Step 8: Identity verification

Select two valid, unexpired identification documents that include your legal name.

Visit a notary public or lawyer and have both identification documents verified and notarized in their original form. Ensure that the notary’s stamp and the date of notarization are visible on the document that the notary/lawyer provides to you. Identification documents that have not been notarized will not be accepted.

Examples of acceptable identification documents include:

See the Identity Documents policy for more information.

Step 9: Licensee Portal account

Visit the CHCPBC Licensee Portal and follow the steps to create your account.

Step 10: Online application

Follow the link in your Alinity confirmation email to begin your application within your new online account.

Within the application:

• Select:
  • Optometry as your profession
  • The class of licensure you are applying for (Full or Provisional) based on your eligibility
• Upload:
  • Your notarized identification documents
  • Evidence of exam completion (Full) or registration (Provisional)
• Enter:
  • Personal information that will be used to conduct your criminal record check(s): legal name, sex assigned at birth, and—optionally—your BC Driver’s Licence or Services Card details
  • Evidence of current professional liability insurance coverage

If you do not have all of your documentation ready when you begin your application, you can save your progress and continue later. Once you submit your application, you will be prompted to pay the application fee.

Ensure that you have already made arrangements for other documentation—relating to English language proficiency, qualifying education/training, and/or past licensure, as applicable—to be sent to CHCPBC.

Step 11: Application review

During the application review process, CHCPBC staff may leave comments to request corrections or clarification of the information within your application form. You will receive an email notification when a comment is left. Please review each comment and make the necessary adjustments promptly.

Please note that delays may occur while CHCPBC waits to receive documentation from other organizations, including language testing agencies, educational institutions, and regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions.

Some applications can be approved by CHCPBC staff, while others must be approved by the Licence Committee. If your application requires Licence Committee approval, the process may also take additional time.

Step 12: Annual fee payment

Once the application review is complete, you will be notified by email that an invoice is ready for payment in the Licensee Portal. Follow the instructions to pay your annual licence fee. Licensure will not be granted until all applicable fees have been paid.

If you are applying for licensure in more than one profession, you will only be invoiced for the higher of the two annual fees.

Please note that CHCPBC’s licensure year runs from April 1 through March 31. Annual licence fees are prorated during the latter half of the year (beginning October 1).

Visit the Fees page for a full list of fees.

Step 13: Licence issued

Watch for an email confirming that your licensee number has been issued. You can then begin practising as an optometrist.