Author: Dr. Selena Friesen
At Waverley Eye Care Centre, we take pride in staying at the forefront of our profession. Becoming a licensed optometrist in Canada is a rigorous process, and one of the key steps is successfully completing the Optometry Examining Board of Canada (OEBC) exam.
As someone who not only practices full-time optometry but also serves as a proctor for the OEBC licensing exam, I have a unique perspective on what it takes to enter this rewarding profession.
What is the OEBC Exam?
The Optometry Examining Board of Canada (OEBC) exam is the national licensing exam required for optometrists to practice in Canada. Regardless of where an optometrist receives their education—whether at a Canadian school or abroad—they must pass this exam to demonstrate that they meet the national standard of patient care.
The OEBC exam ensures every licensed optometrist has the knowledge, clinical reasoning, and patient care skills necessary to provide safe and effective eye care across the country.
What Does the Exam Involve?
The OEBC exam is typically taken in the final year of optometry school or shortly thereafter. It has two main components:
- Written Component – This part tests clinical knowledge in areas such as ocular disease, optics, pharmacology, contact lenses, pediatric vision, binocular vision, and systemic health as it relates to eye care.
- Practical/Clinical Component (OSCE) – The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a hands-on portion of the exam where candidates rotate through stations, each simulating a real-life patient scenario. Candidates must demonstrate skills in case history, diagnosis, clinical decision-making, and communication.
Together, these components ensure new optometrists are prepared to provide high-quality care in any clinical setting.
My Role as an OEBC Proctor
At Waverley Eye Care Centre, I not only care for patients every day in the neighbourhoods of Lindenwoods, LindenRidge, WhyteRidge and River Heights (and other neighbourhoods in southwest Winninpeg) but also contribute to the profession by serving as a proctor for the OEBC exam.
A proctor’s role is to help administer the exam fairly and consistently, making sure candidates are assessed under standardized conditions. This experience allows me to stay closely connected with the evolving standards of optometry education and assessment.
For my patients, this means you can trust that I remain up-to-date on the latest expectations for new optometrists, as well as the skills and knowledge that define competent, modern eye care.
Why This Matters for Our Patients
You might wonder—why should patients care about the licensing exam? Here’s why:
- Quality Assurance: The OEBC ensures that every optometrist in Canada meets a national standard of care.
- Patient Safety: Rigorous testing guarantees that your optometrist is trained to detect eye disease, manage vision conditions, and coordinate care when systemic health concerns arise.
- Up-to-Date Expertise: By being directly involved in the exam process, I stay in tune with the latest clinical guidelines, treatments, and best practices in optometry.
Supporting Future Optometrists
Our commitment doesn’t stop at patient care. We also provide pre-optometry student opportunities in Winnipeg, offering optometry summer jobs and part-time student roles. These experiences allow aspiring optometrists to learn first-hand what clinical practice is like while working alongside our team.
For optometry students and new graduates, Waverley Eye Care Centre offers mentorship and potential optometry careers in Winnipeg. Whether it’s observing clinical care, assisting in patient education, gaining exposure to advanced technologies like axial length measurement for myopia control, we strive to create an environment where students grow into confident, skilled professionals. We also have optometry students from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and vision Science do 3-4 months externship learning rotations where they see patients under the supervision of some of the best optometrists in Winnipeg.
Why Work With Us?
- Professional mentorship from a Waverley Eye Care Centre expert optometrist who proctors the OEBC exam.
- Opportunities for pre-optometry and optometry students in Winnipeg to gain real-world clinical experience.
- A pathway to optometry jobs in Manitoba for those looking to launch their careers.
- A supportive clinic culture that values education, innovation, and teamwork.
- Pre-optometry talks to students considering Optometry as a career.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a patient looking for a trusted and the best eye doctor in Winnipeg or a student considering becoming an optometrist in Canada, Waverley Eye Care Centre is committed to excellence. My role as an OEBC exam proctor is just one way I ensure we provide the highest level of care today, while also preparing tomorrow’s optometrists for success.
If you’d like to learn more about the exam itself, visit: OEBC Optometry Exam.
And if you’re a pre-optometry student or optometry graduate interested in opportunities in Winnipeg, we’d love to connect.
