OEBC is mandated to assess through the OEBC written exam and OSCE the required entry-to-practice optometric knowledge and skills of individuals who seek to practice optometry in Canada. This mandate directly supports Members (i.e. the provincial and territorial organizations that regulate the profession of optometry in Canada) in their protection of the public interest. All candidates must comply with the following Rules of Conduct and Administration Procedures to preserve the integrity of the examination process. Unauthorized access to examination content or any attempt to breach or undermine the examination is a violation of the purpose of the exam.

By registering for and/or participating in the exam (also referred to as “the assessment” or “the examination”), candidates are agreeing to the following exam Rules of Conduct and exam Administration Procedures. Failure to adhere to the Rules of Conduct may result in the penalties and actions outlined in the Exam Misconduct Policy.

Rules of Conduct:

• Every individual that participates in the exam process has a responsibility to maintain the integrity and the confidentiality of the examination.
• All examination materials of the exam (also referred to as ‘the assessment” or ‘the examination’) are the sole property of OEBC and are protected by property right laws. Examination materials include any items or materials that have been or will be used in an exam including but not limited to exam questions, answers, exam booklets, answer (bubble) sheets, OSCE exam materials and information about OEBC’s examination processes that are followed in development and delivery of the examination materials and information are strictly confidential and any possession, reproduction, distribution or sharing of examination materials and information is unlawful and subject to legal action which may include seeking recovery of examination development and delivery costs. Only materials and information that are made public by OEBC, such as the candidate clinical record form, are excluded from the preceding confidentiality requirement.
• Other types of prohibited behaviour include but are not limited to:
  • Reproduction, sharing and/or copying questions and/or other examination material with another individual at any time, or offers including any attempts to reproduce, share or copy examination material. This includes discussions with any individual past, current, or future candidates or assessors or subjects (patients) about any examination material, before, during or after the exam and on or off the examination site(s). This includes but is not limited to:
    • Discussion of exam questions after the exam with anyone – including fellow students, school faculty or academic advisors
    • Discussion of examination questions with any individual who has taken or intending to take the exam 
    • Conversations between Candidates and Assessors or Candidates and Subjects/Patients before the start of, during or after an OSCE station
    • Conversations between candidates during breaks between OSCE stations
    • Talking about the exam between morning and afternoon written components
    • Describing questions from the exam to a candidate who is intending to take the exam
  • Sharing or exchanging equipment between stations or using equipment not authorized in the Candidate Guide.
  • Misrepresentation of personal identity by any person taking the exam, including but not limited to attempting to take the examination for somebody else or permitting someone else to take the examination for you
  • Taking the examination for any purpose other than registration with a Canadian optometric regulatory authority
  • Bringing prohibited materials as defined in Exam Administration Procedures into the assessment area. This includes but is not limited to: cell phones, notes, books, personal calculators or other aids
  • Removal of any examination materials from the examination site other than permissible items as defined in the Candidate Guide. This includes removal of any equipment supplied to the candidate.
  • Writing on anything other than what is provided by the OEBC for that purpose
  • Behaving in a way that is disruptive to the examination environment or process and which could be disruptive to other individuals taking part in the examination
  • Behaving in a way that could be constituted as unprofessional, harmful, violent or potentially violent toward assessors, candidates, patients, remote proctors or other OEBC employees and contractors. This includes but is not limited to communication with OEBC staff regarding exam registration, scheduling, exam administration, scores, or score reporting.
  • Failure to disclose a conflict of interest as defined in the Candidate Guide.
  • Providing false or fraudulent information or documents in relation to any aspect of the exam administration including registering for the exam and performance reporting
  • Exiting the designated waiting area, the assigned examination room for the OSCE station, or any part of the assessment area without permission of the Chief Examiner or Chief Proctor or other designated exam staff
  • Failure to report any of the preceding behaviour if one is or becomes aware of it: