Admissions
Because of small class size, admission to BC College of Optics is limited and on a 'first-come' basis. Our Dispensing Optician/Contact Lens Fitter program has the following prerequisites:

      (a) Grade 12, or equivalent, with C+ or better in
           Math 11 or Algebra 11 or,
      (b) Mature Student (out of school a minimum of
            2 years) with C+ or better in Math 11 or
            Algebra 11
      AND
      minimum 19 years of age before the first day of
      class.
A no-charge math assessment test is available only if a high school transcript is unavailable.
Registration is done "on a first-come basis".
Please note that these Admission Policies may not be waived by either the student or the College if the student fails to meet them. 

Foreign Students
BC College of Optics is also designated by Canada Immigration as a post-secondary education institution for Foreign Student Study Permit purposes. Contact our Program Director for details.

Registration Fee is $250.00 ($350.00 if outside North America). To save your seat register early.

Note: United States (US) residents may enroll in the BC College of Optics opticianry program without the necessity of first obtaining a Foreign Student Study Permit, since our course of instruction is not longer than six (6) months. Following graduation our US students will be in a excellent position to pass both their ABO and NCLE National certification examinations, held in major US cities each year.

Financial Aid
BC College of Optics is designated by the British Columbia Ministry of Education-Student Services Branch as a post-secondary institution whose students may be eligible for both BC and Canada Student Loans.

Student Loans may be available to Landed Immigrants and to residents of BC who have resided in BC for the past twelve (12) months. Canadians living in other Provinces of Canada should contact their own Provincial Ministry of Education-Student Services Branch for information on qualifying for Canada and Provincial Student Loans while studying at an Out-of-Province institution such as BC College of Optics.

Note: Student Loans may take up to twelve (12) weeks to process, so students should apply for them early.

Class Schedule
Our two (2)-semester, six (6)-month Day classes commence in the Spring and Fall of each year. BC College of Optics also offers a part-time twelve (12)-month Evening class beginning in mid-October of each year.

Course Outlines

General Course
  1. History of Ophthalmic Lenses
  2. General Introduction
  3. Anatomy of the Eye
  4. Eyeglass Frames
  5. Cosmetic Frame Fitting
  6. Ophthalmic Lenses
  7. Spherical Lenses
  8. Ophthalmic Tools and Supplies
  9. Frame Adjustments
  10. Astigmatic Lenses in General
  11. Checking and Measuring Lenses
  12. Interpreting the Prescription
  13. Introduction to Bifocals
  14. Trifocal and Progressive Lenses
  15. Vertex Distance and its Relation to Effective Power
  16. Optical Lab Procedure
  17. Vertical Imbalance at the Reading Level, Slaboff & "R" segs
  18. Principal Planes, Iseikonic Lenses, Lens Tilt
  19. Ophthalmic Prisms, Edge & Centre Thickness, Cylinders not 90 apart, Vergence, Magnification
  20. Spectacles for Aphakia
  21. Lenses for Special Use
  22. Field Trip(s)

Contact Lens Course
  1. History of Contact Lenses
  2. General Introduction
  3. Anatomy of the Cornea
  4. Optics of Contact Lenses
  5. Corneal Astigmatism
  6. Types of Contact Lenses
  7. Eye Measurements for Ordering Contact Lenses
  8. Contact Lens Parameters
  9. Ordering a Contact Lens
  10. Spheres, Front Toric, Back Toric, Bi-Toric, Flexure
  11. Contact Lens Instruments
  12. Variation from the Usual Contact Lens
  13. Inspecting Contact Lenses
  14. In-Office Modifications to Contact Lenses
  15. Patient Instruction and Management
  16. Interpreting the Patient's Symptoms
  17. Contact Lens Training Video(s)
Page Links
Admissions
 Financial Aid
 Class Schedule
 Course Outlines

FEES & COSTS

BC College of Optics offers a single course of instruction covering Ophthalmic Dispensing & Contact Lens Fitting, plus the basics of optical lab. Our tuition fee for the entire program is $11,670.00, plus $400.00 for textbooks. Sorry, no 'on-line' training available at this school.

School fees are paid on a monthly 'pay-as-you-go' basis and are interest-free, or (if you qualify) by government Student Loans. Unfortunately, no BCCO correspondence or distance-learning program is available,
only our 'in-house' training.

JOB PLACEMENT

Although BC College of Optics is not a placement agency, we do try to assist all graduates to secure employment following graduation. Like their public College opticianry Diploma graduate counterparts, BCCO graduates must pass the COBC licensing exams, and then most find employment in BC's optical field within three (3) months.

CLASS SIZE

BC College of Optics's average class size is 18-25 students. Smaller class size means that our students are in a better position to receive individual attention should they find difficulty with portions of our program.

WHY BCCO?
1) Quality Education:
BCCO's curriculum has been examined as part of the PCTIA accreditation process, and then also examined and approved by the regulatory College of Opticians of BC. It contains all the learning competencies required to work both as a Dispensing Optician and as a Contact Lens Fitter.

2) Excellent Faculty:
BC College of Optics offers accessible, caring instructors who are expert in the fields of Ophthalmic Dispensing and Contact Lens Fitting.

3) Convenient Location:
BC College of Optics is centrally located with direct access to either SKYTRAIN'S 'Surrey Place' or 'King George Hwy' Stations, while also an easy vehicle commute from almost anywhere in the Lower Mainland of BC.

4) Cost Effective:
BCCO graduates can enter the workplace after only six (6)-months, much earlier than their public College Diploma optician counterparts, and can therefore expect to earn more than $30,000-$45,000 in real wages before their two (2)-year public College Diploma optician colleagues begin to earn their first paycheck.

5) Flexible Schedule:
BCCO offers full-time or part-time, day or evening classes.

6) Class Size:
BCCO is a small school, with average class size of only 20 students.

7) Intensive, Concentrated Program:
While all public College opticianry programs require certain Humanities and/or Liberal Arts credits as part of their Diploma programs, BCCO's Certificate program stays focused on teaching opticianry subjects exclusively.
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