The Optometry Examining Board of Canada (OEBC) has announced a revised fee structure for its national board examinations, effective May 31, 2025. These changes are designed to ensure the continued delivery of a fair, rigorous, and candidate-focused assessment process while maintaining the organization’s financial sustainability.
Key Changes:
- The fee for the Written Examination will increase from $1,500 to $2,000.
- The OSCE fee will remain at $3,000, with future adjustments aimed at equalizing the cost of both components.
- The Laser and Minor Surgical Procedures Exam (pending legislation approval in each jurisdiction) will be introduced at $2,500.
- A flat fee of $500 will apply to all levels of appeal requests, and for policy exceptions. Importantly, the appeal fee will be refunded if the appeal is upheld.
These changes reflect OEBC’s shift from a cost-based to a value-based approach to fee setting, recognizing the equal importance of both the Written and OSCE components in assessing entry-to-practice competencies for optometrists in Canada. The complete Fee Schedule may be viewed here.
Rationale for the Fee Increase:
The updated fee structure addresses several critical needs:
- Inflation and Rising Operational Costs: Ensuring the exam reflects practice, including the use of human patients for technical skills, and costs increase, the new fees ensure OEBC can continue to operate without requiring financial assistance from its member organizations.
- Fairness and Consistency: Equalizing fees across exam components promotes fairness and reflects the shared value of each assessment in evaluating professional readiness.
- Ongoing Improvements: The Written Exam fee includes access to a comprehensive practice exam, part of OEBC’s commitment to a candidate-centric experience. This aligns with OEBC’s mission to support candidates through transparent, equitable, and accessible assessments.
Candidate-Centric Enhancements:
OEBC continues to prioritize fairness and transparency in its examination process. Candidates benefit from:
- A bilingual, accessible exam format with accommodations for diverse needs.
- A study guide included at no additional cost.
- Clear performance feedback and streamlined exam logistics.
- Remote proctoring options for the Written Exam, reducing travel and scheduling burdens.
- Capitalizing the exam development investment — allowing the recovery of the investment over 15 years instead of immediately being applied to exam fees.
About OEBC:
Founded in 1995 by Canada’s ten provincial optometry regulators, OEBC is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to protecting public safety through psychometrically valid and defensible entry-to-practice assessments. The OEBC exam is developed by the profession, for the profession, and serves as a key quality assurance tool for both regulators and educational institutions.
For more information, see our website (visit http://www.oebc.ca).