• To dispense contacts in Ontario, one must be registered with the College of Opticians of Ontario.contact in case image by Melking from Fotolia.com
  
  To legally dispense contacts and eyeglasses in Ontario, one must be registered with the College of Opticians of Ontario (COO). Opticians supply, prepare, dispense, fit, adjust and adapt optical appliances. For registration with the College and license to practice in Ontario, there are three ways that application may be made.
  
  

Accredited Opticianry Programs

• Graduate from one of the four accredited Canadian programs and successfully complete the National Eyeglasses and the National Contact Lenses Examinations to register with the COO. The programs are offered at Georgian College in Ontario, Douglas College in British Columbia, Seneca College in Ontario, and Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Alberta. If graduation from one of these schools has not been obtained, there are two other options for qualification.
  
  

PLAR

• Complete a Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) through COO. To qualify, one must demonstrate experience, skills, abilities and knowledge at the same level as new applicants from an accredited program. Application fee for PLAR as of June 2010 is $500 CAD and if an assessment test is required, an additional $300 CAD.
  
  

Registration in Another Province or Territory

• Qualify for registration to the College of Opticians of Ontario a third way by being currently registered and in good standing to both dispense contacts and eyeglasses in another Province or Territory in Canada.