Form 5 – Application for Academic Credential Assessment (click here to download)

A fully completed application form must be included at the time of your application. The form can be obtained from the above link or by emailing a request to the FORAC Credentialing Office. Once you have completed the Application Form, please scan and e-mail to credentialing@forac-faroc.ca.

NOTE: FORAC staff do not meet with applicants in-person. If you have a question about the application process, contact the Credentialing Office by e-mail at credentialing@forac-faroc.ca. You can request to  speak with someone directly over the phone through e-mail

Form 2 – Release of Information Authorization (click here to download)

In order to preserve your privacy, only authorized personnel may access information from applicant records. This includes members of COEC, FORAC staff involved in credential assessments, and any other person authorized in writing by applicants. FORAC-approved consultants may access applicant records for the purpose of FORAC research and evaluation on the condition that a confidentiality agreement is signed.

Completion of Form 2 also authorizes FORAC to provide documents to provincial optometric regulatory bodies and the International Optometric Bridging Program (IOBP).

FORAC will refuse to provide any person including applicants with any information that in FORAC’s opinion jeopardizes the safety of any person.

As described earlier, when the World Education Services (WES) completes its evaluation of your credentials it will provide you with a report. FORAC requires that a duplicate copy of that report be sent directly from WES to FORAC.

FORAC must receive official copies of descriptions for all optometry-related courses taken. Please note that course descriptions should include all undergraduate and graduate courses that you believe are relevant to optometry. This may mean that you must arrange for them to be sent from more than one university. They should also include hours of study (lecture, practical and clinical). FORAC will only accept official descriptions sent directly from applicants’ universities either by a verifiable university e-mail account, or by post in a sealed envelope. In some cases, FORAC may already have course descriptions on file for your years of study. The administrative assistant will let you know if this is the case.

E-mail course descriptions to credentialing@forac-faroc.ca, or mailed to:

FORAC Credentialing Service
Sheppard Centre Post Office
4841 Yonge Street, Unit #242
PO Box 43215
Toronto, ON M5N 5W0

In accordance with FORAC policy, an applicant’s undergraduate courses in sciences (natural or social sciences) that have been assessed by WES, and are optometry-related, will be assessed as part of COEC’s Education Analysis upon request by applicants. These undergraduate courses must represent a minimum of 3 full-time academic years of undergraduate studies in sciences for you to qualify for professional practice anywhere in Canada (except Quebec).

In its analysis, COEC will also take into account additional optometry education and training acquired outside your initial optometry degree programs. This could include graduate degree courses, post-graduate certificates and diplomas, residency training, and possibly other courses from other optometry professional development programs offered in source countries. It may also include optometry courses that do not directly correspond to University of Waterloo optometry courses (e.g. immunology taken in another program).

In addition, if you have taken additional education and training including professional development courses in optometry, please include with your application as much information as possible on their relevance, structure, depth, breadth, credibility, authenticity, and method of evaluation.

NOTE: Supervised Practice

The country in which your degree was obtained must endorse any pre-registration period of supervised practice that you might have undertaken. You must provide evidence of this endorsement; specifically, official correspondence from organizations assessing performance and evidence from sources of supervised practice confirming hours and areas of practice.

Click on the following links to download each individual form:

• Form 23 – Credential Assessment Fee Payment Form

FORAC is a not-for-profit organization. It makes every effort to keep costs and fees to a minimum but to be sustainable, it must recover the costs of services it provides to applicants. Applicants are responsible for providing FORAC with full payment of credential assessment fees in advance of their application being activated.

You will be required to send your assessment fee payment to the FORAC Credentialing Office using a Credential Assessment Fee Payment Form (Form 23) . Fees may be paid by certified cheque made payable to the Federation of Optometric Regulatory Authorities of Canada. Only payment in Canadian currency will be accepted. These fees are non-refundable.

The fee for a COEC academic credential assessment is $2250 + 13% HST = $2542.50 Canadian Funds.

NOTE: Other FORAC Fees

• Form 2 – Release of Information Authorization
• Form 24 – Document Access Fee Form

If at any time you request copies of documents in your FORAC record, you will be asked to complete a Release of Information Authorization Form (Form 2) and a Document Access Fee Payment Form (Form 24). FORAC staff will advise you in writing of the costs of fulfilling your request and the amount charged will be determined by the number and size of documents and costs of administration according to the following schedule:

• Photocopy costs for copies of documents from your record: Depends on number of copies.
• Postage costs, if any: Depends on size of package, destination, and method of delivery.
• Courier costs, if any: Depends on size of package, destination, and method of delivery.
• Administration costs: $50.00 in Canadian funds per request.

All documents submitted for academic credential assessment must be in English or translated into English. Applicants wishing to have their credentials assessed in French will be referred to the Ordre des optométristes du Québec (www.ooq.org/)

Translations of all languages must be authentic, true, and dependable to ensure that all relevant information is considered during the assessment process.

1. A certified translator at the original source (e.g. the university from which the applicant graduated), or
2. A certified translator at a consulate, high commission or embassy of the country in which the document originated, or
3. A certified translator at a Canadian consulate, high commission or embassy in the country from which the document originated, or
4. A certified translator in Canada.

An original statement from the translator must accompany all translations and affirm that:

1. The translation is accurate and authentic.
2. The translator is certified.
3. The identification number and/or seal, name, address and telephone number of the translator.
4. The printed name and original signature of the translator.

Arranging translations and providing them to FORAC is the responsibility of applicants. The cost of translations into English is also the responsibility of applicants. If FORAC receives documents directly from organizations in source countries, it will forward copies of these documents to applicants to arrange appropriate translations.

Your credentials are assessed by the Canadian Optometric Evaluation Committee (COEC), a committee of FORAC, made up of Canadian optometrists and optometric educators. COEC examines the academic credentials of internationally educated eye care professionals to assess applicants eligibility for the Internationally Graduated Optometrist Evaluating Examination (IGOEE) administered by the Touchstone Institute. Following credential assessment, COEC makes a recommendation to the optometry regulatory body in the province identified by applicants as their expected Canadian destination.

COEC credential assessments result in recommendations to provincial regulators on whether applicants should be considered eligible to apply for IGOEE. Notification to unsuccessful applicants will explain where evidence is lacking, and provide applicants with information on where they might be able to obtain further relevant education that could be favourably considered by FORAC upon re-application.

FORAC makes every effort to advise applicants of the results of their assessment within 7 days of assessment completion.

FORAC recognizes that in order to treat applicants equitably, there may be circumstances in which individual applications require special consideration. Two examples illustrate but do not limit this policy: first, credential assessment procedures may be modified to accommodate applicants with disabilities. Secondly, if applicants are unable to obtain required documents due to situations of war or other crises in source countries, alternative procedures will considered in consultation with applicants. Decisions are subject to review and appeal.

To request consideration of special circumstances, you must apply in writing and provide sufficient evidence to justify your request. FORAC will contact you to discuss your situation and you will be notified of FORAC’s decision in writing with reasons.