Flexible programming
In order to provide maximum flexibility to complete your courses on evenings and weekends, we have designed this program to be taken online. However, during your first and second year, you will be required to attend 2 full-day labs. These labs are completed in either Edmonton or Calgary. If you qualify for distance status, you may opt to complete these labs at your place of work.
The rest of the program, including course material and assessments, is accessible through Moodle, NAIT’s online eLearning system. This method of delivery allows you to participate in course forums and access learning materials whenever you want, from the comfort of your own home, office, or local coffee shop.
Canadian Applicants outside Alberta
If you are a Canadian resident outside of Alberta, please contact the Opticians Association of Canada (OAC) for registration information and an application package. Canadian residents outside of Alberta do not apply through the Alberta Post-Secondary Application System (APAS). If you apply in error, the application fee cannot be refunded.
Important note for residents of Lloydminster
If your practicum is located on the Alberta side of the border, you follow the same application process as the Canadian residents in Alberta (i.e., apply through APAS and complete your application checklist). If your practicum is located on the Saskatchewan side of the border, you follow the same application process as the Canadian residents outside of Alberta (i.e., DO NOT apply through APAS - contact the OAC instead).
Important note for residents of Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut
You follow the same application process as the Canadian residents in Alberta (i.e., apply through APAS and complete your application checklist).
International Students
Some NAIT programs are unavailable to international students because they do not meet eligibility for a study permit or Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
- Study Permit: This program is delivered through distance learning and therefore does not meet the criteria for a study permit.
- Co-Op: Due to this program not meeting the criteria of a study permit, it also does not meet the criteria for a Co-Op Work Permit.
- Post-Graduation Work Permit: This program is delivered through distance learning and therefore is not eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Program. Completion of this program will not make you eligible for a PGWP.
International students who have questions about permissions to take this program can contact a NAIT Academic Advisor – International to discuss options.
Work Experience Placements
Students in this program gain valuable work experience with Work Integrated Learning (WIL). WIL is a form of experiential learning that integrates academic studies with relevant work-based learning. The WIL placement in this program is a Clinical Placement.
Clinical Placement
A Clinical Placement involves work experience under the supervision of an experienced registered or licensed professional (e.g. preceptor) in any discipline that requires practice-based work experience for professional licensure or certification. Practica are generally unpaid and the work is done in a supervised setting.
| Duration |
60 weeks |
| Compensation |
No |
| International Students |
Not Accepted |
| Placement Identified By |
Student - Submits resume to employers to apply for WIL positions. |
| Student Interview Required |
No |
Career Outcomes
NAIT's Optical Sciences Eyeglasses program is a fully accredited program. After successful completion, you can take the national licensing examination to practice in Canada: National Alliance of Canadian Opticians Regulators (NACOR). Upon passing the exam, opticians can continue to the Optical Sciences Contact Lens program.
In Alberta, graduates need to obtain a provisional license from the College of Opticians of Alberta (COA) until they pass the NACOR exam.
Opticians registering in Alberta for the first time will have to complete a criminal record check and a jurisprudence course provided by the College of Opticians of Alberta and complete continuing competence requirements throughout their career. For information on post-graduation licensing requirements, contact the College of Opticians of Alberta.
Additional information about the profession of opticianry can be found at:
Job Opportunities
Industries
- Retail dispensaries
- Low vision practices
- Refractive surgery clinics
Median Starting Salary
The expected starting salary for individuals with a(n) Optical Sciences - Eyeglasses Diploma is $43,680.
This salary information was based on graduate data from the past 3 years and reflects annual salaries for graduates who claimed they were working more than 30 hours per week. Graduates who quoted salaries below $10,000 and above $200,000 per year have been excluded. Note that NAIT publishes the median salary instead of the average to minimize the potential of outlying salaries distorting the mean. Data represented here may differ from other data sources due to differences in definition or differences in timing.
Grad Employment Rate
Employment rates are reported by NAIT alumni, are for information purposes, and do not guarantee future employment opportunities. Please note that data for newer programs may not be included within this report.
Download report
Take your career planning to the next level
This program can be used as a step toward earning higher credentials and/or certifications.
Further education at NAIT
Once you complete your credential, explore the programs below to specialize further or develop management skills.
Certification(s)
Graduates of the Optical Sciences program are eligible to attempt the national licensing examination:
National Alliance of Canadian Opticians Regulators
Post-secondary articulation agreements within Alberta are approved by the Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer (ACAT). To view the details of specific agreements, please visit transferalberta.ca or contact articulations@nait.ca For questions regarding transfer agreements or to obtain a course description/outline that is no longer available on our website, please contact articulations@nait.ca.
Courses and Advanced Credit
Current and recently admitted students can find information and updates about their program on their My Program page in the MyNAIT Portal. To monitor your course progress and the courses still needed to graduate, visit your Academic Progress Report.
Advanced Credit
You may apply for advanced credit once you have been accepted into the program. Advanced credit can be Transfer Credit (for completed post-secondary courses) or PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition).
Transfer Credit
In addition to the common guidelines outlined on the Transfer and Credit Options section, your program has other advanced credit requirements that are applied to each request including:
- You must have completed the course or program no more than 2 year(s) ago unless a formalized articulation agreement is in place
- You must have a minimum mark of C in the course(s) or program
Read more about advanced credit or contact us about applying for credit for this program.
Tuition & Fees
This content is specific to the selected Aug 28, 2025 intake.
The tuition and fee amounts are estimates based on current academic year's rates. For financial planning purposes, please use these totals as an approximate estimate of your costs. Actual fees may vary by term and enrolment activities. Please refer to the tuition and fees page for more detailed information.
Books, Supplies & Program Fees (est.)
Level 1 Term 1: $250
Level 2 Term 1: $150
Scholarships & Awards
NAIT awards over $6 million in scholarships and bursaries to more than 4,000 students each year, with the support of donors and the government. A variety of awards are available, including ones for academics, community involvement, equity/diversity grants, bursaries for financial need, program-specific awards and more!
Learn how to apply for awards
Admission Requirements
This content is specific to the selected Aug 28, 2025 intake.
Minimum entrance requirements
The specific academic requirements you must meet to be considered for admission. Where applicable, the minimum accepted Alberta high school courses are listed in round brackets ( ). Equivalent or higher-level courses are also accepted.
Dates & Deadlines
International
Applications Deadline:
Aug 09, 2025
Domestic
Applications Open:
Oct 01, 2024
Application Deadline:
Aug 09, 2025
Term Start Date:
Aug 28, 2025
Seats are limited - Apply early! Applications will remain open for at least one month from the open date. If the program/waitlist fill after that date, applications will close.
International Applicants
This program does not accept international applicants. International applicants interested in this program may contact a NAIT International Academic Advisor to discuss their options.
