| Regulated profession (NOC 2021) | |
| Regulatory body | Manitoba Association of Optometrists (MAO) |
| Regulated titles |
|
| National bodies | The Federation of Optometric Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FORAC) is the national voice of optometric regulatory bodies across Canada. It oversees the credential assessment process for internationally educated applicants who are seeking to apply for registration to practice optometry in any province or territory (except Quebec). |
| Membership associations | Membership in the Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) is automatic upon registration with an optometric regulatory body in Canada. |
| Registration process | See MAO - Internationally Educated Optometrists. |
| Credential assessment | See the following pages:
|
| Language proficiency | See FORAC - Applying in English (Step 3: Confirmation of English proficiency test). |
| Bridging/gap programs | The University of Waterloo offers the Advanced Standing Optometry Preparatory Program. |
| Professional competency profiles | See Canadian Examiners in Optometry (CEO) - National Competency Profile for Entry-Level Optometry. |
| Tools/resources | |
| Essential skills profile | Go to Job Bank - Explore careers by essential skills, search for the occupation via name or NOC code, and view the essential skills profile. |
| Employment outlook | Go to Job Bank - Explore job outlooks, search the occupation name or NOC code, and view employment outlook by provinces and regions across Canada. |
| Job search tools | See MAO - Optomart Classifieds. To search job postings in any occupation, visit Job Bank or Work in Manitoba. |
| Related occupations/alternate careers (NOC 2021) | Below are examples of occupations in the broader field of optical health and services:
While each occupation will have its own set of employment requirements, none are regulated occupations in Manitoba and therefore do not have certification/registration requirements with a professional regulatory body. Employers often, however, require applicants to have job-specific experience, training, and/or certification. Always check the hiring criteria carefully. Hiring criteria is set by the employer and will vary from employer to employer. |
Notes
- This fact sheet serves as a guide and will be updated periodically. When researching information on professional registration processes, always refer to the regulator to ensure accurate, up-to-date information.
- The Government of Canada updates the National Occupational Classification (NOC) every five years. At present, users can access four versions of NOC (2021, 2016, 2011, and 2006) on the NOC website. When searching an occupation on the NOC website, always use the most recent version (NOC 2021).
- The regulatory body is the only organization that can grant entry into a regulated occupation via registration and the issuing of a licence or certificate. Other organizations (e.g., national bodies, regional bodies, membership associations, etc.) are not regulatory bodies.