There are only two optometry schools in Canada: the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science, which teaches in English, and the Université de Montréal École d’optométrie, which teaches in French[9][3]. Together they take about 146 new students a year[4][3]. This guide compares their requirements side by side, using each school’s own pages, so you can plan your courses, tests and deadlines.
Waterloo vs. Montréal at a glance
| Waterloo | Montréal | |
|---|---|---|
| Program | Doctor of Optometry (OD), 4 years, in English[4] | Doctorat de 1er cycle en optométrie (O.D.), 5 years, 197 credits, in French[3] |
| Where | Waterloo, Ontario | Montreal, Quebec |
| First-year seats | 90[4] | 56: 28 CEGEP + 28 other applicants[3] |
| Applications (2026) | 280[2] | 594 CEGEP + 580 other[3] |
| Before you apply | 3 years of university science, with a majority of full-course-load terms[5] | A Quebec DEC with the science prerequisites, or a bachelor’s degree[3] |
| Minimum average | 75% overall[5] | Not published[3] |
| Admitted averages | Mean 84%, range 78–92% (2026 class)[2] | R score 36.720 average among CEGEP applicants interviewed (2026)[3] |
| Admission test | OAT, 300+ in each section; class average 374 (2026)[5][2] | None[3] |
| Casper | Yes, Casper 2 (CSP-10211)[5] | No[6] |
| Written part | Experiences, prerequisite and academic forms[5] | Motivation questionnaire[3] |
| References | 2: an optometrist you shadowed + a character reference[5] | None[3] |
| Job shadowing | At least 8 hours with an optometrist[5] | Not required[3] |
| Interview | Virtual, mid-to-late January[7] | Virtual, in French, by invitation; 50% of the final score[3] |
| Who can apply | Canadians and residents of 12+ months; a few international students[5] | Canadian citizens and permanent residents only[3] |
| Deadline (2027 entry) | November 12, 2026[7] | November 1, 2026 (university) or March 1, 2027 (CEGEP only)[3] |
| Tuition, year 1 | $18,800 (Ontario) or $20,300 (other Canadians)[8] | About $2,254 per 15-credit term for Quebec residents[3] |
Checked on November 4, 2026 against each school’s own pages. Each school page has the details and the full source list.
Which school can you apply to?
The two schools work very differently, so start here:
- Waterloo is the only English-language optometry school in Canada[9]. You apply after at least three years of university science, and you need the OAT, Casper, two references and job shadowing[5].
- Montréal is the only optometry school in Quebec and the only one in Canada that teaches in French[3]. You can apply straight from CEGEP with a science DEC. There is no admission test and no Casper. You fill in a motivation questionnaire and may be called to an interview[3][6].
- Montréal only takes Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and you need strong French[3]. Waterloo considers a small number of international students[5].
Many students in Ontario and the rest of Canada apply only to Waterloo. Students in Quebec can apply to both. If you went to CEGEP, Waterloo counts two CEGEP years as one university year, so you still need two more years of university before you apply there[4].
Prerequisite courses
| Subject | Waterloo (university courses) | Montréal (CEGEP courses) |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | 2 intro courses + 1 lab, microbiology, 2 physiology | 2 courses |
| Chemistry | Intro chemistry with lab, organic, biochemistry | General, solutions, organic |
| Physics | 2 intro courses with 2 labs | Mechanics, electricity and magnetism, waves and modern physics |
| Math | Calculus, statistics | Differential and integral calculus |
| Arts | English or writing, intro ethics, intro psychology | – |
Waterloo: 15 courses and 4 labs[5]. Montréal: covered by a Quebec science DEC[3].
Waterloo’s list is long and includes arts courses: English, ethics and psychology[5]. You must finish every prerequisite by the end of the winter term before you start. There are no exceptions[5]. Montréal expects the CEGEP science courses, which a science DEC already covers[3].
GPA and grade requirements
| School | Minimum to apply | Average of admitted students | Lowest admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo | 75.0% | 84% (2026 class)[2] | 78% (2026 class)[2] |
| Montréal | Not published | R 36.720, CEGEP applicants interviewed (2026)[3] | Not published since 2023; R 34.750 in 2021[1] |
Waterloo needs an overall university average of at least 75%, counted across all the courses in your degree[5]. Admitted students do much better. In recent years their averages ranged from 79% to 92%[5], and the 2026 class had a mean of 84%[2].
Montréal ranks CEGEP applicants by R score. In 2026, CEGEP applicants called to interview had an average R score of 36.720 and a top score of 39.535[3]. Montréal no longer publishes a minimum R score, because the program is part of a pilot project that assesses motivation[3]. Need better grades? Read our study habits guide.
OAT and Casper
The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) is required at Waterloo only[5]. It has four parts: Survey of the Natural Sciences (biology, general and organic chemistry), Reading Comprehension, Physics and Quantitative Reasoning[10]. Scores run from 200 to 400[10]. Waterloo needs at least 300 in every section, and the 2026 class averaged 374[5][2]. Waterloo does not accept the MCAT or DAT instead[4].
- For Fall 2027 entry, Waterloo accepts an OAT written between August 31, 2024 and September 30, 2026[5].
- You can rewrite after 60 days, up to four times in 12 months[11]. Waterloo uses your highest valid score[5].
- The OAT is no longer offered in Quebec, so Quebec students must book a test centre outside the province[11].
- The 2025-2026 exam fee is $520 USD[10].
Practise with our free OAT practice tests.
Casper is required at Waterloo (Casper 2, test code CSP-10211, once per cycle)[5]. Montréal does not use it for optometry[6]. See what the Casper test is and try our free Casper practice tests.
Interviews and selection
Both schools interview a short list of applicants. At Waterloo, if you aren’t invited, your application ends there; at Montréal, the interview can be eliminatory[5][3].
- Waterloo holds a virtual interview weekend in mid-to-late January. It looks at your knowledge of the profession, your motivation, clear thinking, poise and how you express ideas[7][2]. It does not publish weights.
- Montréal selects in three steps: first on your academic record, then on the questionnaire (60%) and record (40%) to choose who is interviewed, then on the interview (50%) and that earlier score (50%)[3]. The interview is virtual and in French[3].
Prepare with our panel interview guide and interview questions.
Deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- September 30, 2026Last day to write the OAT for Waterloo[7]
- November 1, 2026Montréal: university and out-of-Quebec applicants[3]
- November 5, 2026Last approved Casper date for Waterloo[7]
- November 12, 2026Waterloo application closes (OUAC)[7]
- March 1, 2027Montréal: applicants with only Quebec CEGEP studies[3]
Waterloo also has form, transcript and reference deadlines in late November and early December. See the Waterloo page for the full timeline.
How competitive is optometry school in Canada?
Very. Waterloo gets about 245 to 300 applicants a year for 90 seats[2]. Montréal is even tighter: in 2026 it had about 21 applications per place in each of its two pools[3]. CEGEP applications to Montréal have more than doubled since 2023[1][3].
Applications to Canada’s two optometry schools
Applicants by entering year, as published by each school.
| Entering year | Waterloo | Montréal (CEGEP) | Montréal (other) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | – | 294 | 512 | [1] |
| 2015 | 286 | 258 | 665 | [1] [2] |
| 2016 | 250 | – | – | [2] |
| 2017 | 265 | 366 | 682 | [1] [2] |
| 2018 | 260 | – | – | [2] |
| 2019 | 250 | 377 | 594 | [1] [2] |
| 2020 | 245 | 263 | 554 | [1] [2] |
| 2021 | 295 | 464 | 508 | [1] [2] |
| 2022 | 295 | – | – | [2] |
| 2023 | 269 | 260 | – | [1] [2] |
| 2024 | 267 | 368 | – | [1] [2] |
| 2025 | 262 | 500 | – | [1] [2] |
| 2026 | 280 | 594 | 580 | [2] [3] |
Montréal publishes CEGEP and other (university) applicants separately; other applicants were not published for 2023–2025.
Applicants per seat, 2026
Applications divided by first-year places. Hover a bar for the numbers behind it.
| Montréal (CEGEP) | 21.2 |
|---|---|
| Montréal (other) | 20.7 |
| Waterloo | 3.1 |
Sources: Waterloo selection process page and the Université de Montréal program page. Montréal counts applications, and some people apply in both pools.
Tuition and costs
Optometry is a costly program, mostly because of equipment.
- Waterloo: $18,800 a year for Ontario residents and $20,300 for other Canadians in years 1 to 3, plus books and about $13,500 in supplies and equipment over the program[8].
- Montréal: about $2,254 per 15-credit term for Quebec residents and $5,561 for other Canadians, plus about $9,000 for instruments from year 2 and up to $9,000 for the year-5 externship[3].
Application fees add up too: about $250 for OUAC, about $535 USD for the OAT and about $50 for Casper plus $20 per extra school, as listed by Waterloo[8]. Montréal charges a fee for the motivation assessment[3].
Requirements for each school
Still deciding on a career? Read how to become an optometrist in Canada, or compare with the dental school and medical school requirements.
Frequently asked questions
How many optometry schools are there in Canada?
Two: the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science (English) and the Université de Montréal École d’optométrie (French).[9]
Do Canadian optometry schools require the OAT?
What average do you need for optometry school in Canada?
Can you apply to optometry school in Canada after CEGEP?
How long is optometry school in Canada?
Sources
- Université de Montréal: admission statistics (PDF)
- University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science: selection process
- Université de Montréal: Doctorat de 1er cycle en optométrie (O.D.)
- University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science: frequently asked questions
- University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science: application requirements
- Université de Montréal: health doctorates admission table (PDF)
- University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science: application timeline
- University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science: financial considerations
- University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science: graduation and exam success rates
- Optometry Admission Test: Candidate Guide (PDF)
- ADA / ASCO: Optometry Admission Test (OAT)
Figures were checked against these sources on November 4, 2026. Optometry schools change their rules every cycle, so confirm on the official site before you apply.