A doctor of optometry requires seven to eight years of post-secondary education to obtain a professional designation. Optometrists complete a bachelor of science degree or higher, followed by a four-year doctorate in optometry at an accredited university's optometry school. In addition to earning an optometry degree, graduates must meet provincial licensing requirements in the province or territory where they plan to settle.If you plan to pursue a career in Canada, it is important to understand the job requirements of an optometrist, job search strategies, partnerships, and more. The first step is to complete a bachelor's degree at the university, preferably with a focus on biological sciences or pre-medical studies.
Students must also complete courses prior to their bachelor's degree with a focus on mathematics and science, and must achieve at least a B average or higher, depending on the school's competitive averages.To become an optometrist, you must complete a four-year Doctor of Optometry (O. D.) degree. This degree combines classroom learning with supervised clinical experience. In Canada, the Doctor of Optometry degree is only offered at the University of Waterloo in Ontario.
After completing your doctorate, you must take and pass the National Board of Examiners in Optometry exam.It takes a long time to become an optometrist, but with hard work and dedication, you can achieve your dream of becoming an optometrist. Without healthy vision, our ability to work, play, recognize a face, or drive can be dramatically affected. Our vision systems are extremely complex and require these eye specialists to keep our vision and eyes healthy. Without optometrists, we wouldn't be able to accurately identify and correct all types of vision problems.
They provide advice on how to maintain good eye health and can answer any concerns or questions about everything related to the eyes and vision.At our Northwest Calgary eye clinic in Market Mall, our team of highly experienced eye doctors can evaluate your vision and eye health to provide you with the most advanced care and treatment options. To learn more about our team of optometrists, contact Market Mall Optometry by calling (403) 286-4884 or book an appointment online for a comprehensive eye exam.For those planning to work in private practice, strong business skills are important job requirements as optometrists. Optometrists trained outside North America and who wish to practice in any Canadian province (except Quebec) should contact the Federation of Optometric Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FORAC) to have their academic credentials evaluated. In these environments, you'll be surrounded by other optometrists who are likely to be willing to collaborate and connect with others who share a similar career path.
So be prepared to answer questions related to an optometrist's core competencies, skills, and job requirements.Once established, many optometrists will purchase an office on their own, with a partner, or with a group of partners. This means that the optometrist profession went from the group of optometrists (NOC 312) to the group of optometrists (NOC 31.1). Review the optometrist job requirements and the skills listed in the job offer and list the skills you have. For more information on working as an optometrist, the Government of Canada Job Bank provides information on salaries, job prospects, job requirements, and skills.
By law, you can only practice as an optometrist in Canada or use the title “optometrist” if you have been authorized by a provincial or territorial regulatory body. Provincial and territorial regulatory bodies for optometrists set standards for entry into the profession and issue licenses to practice to those who meet the requirements. Optometrists are independent primary health care providers who represent the front line of visual health.
