School of Health and Life Sciences

Optical Sciences - Contact Lenses

Apply Now

Need more info? Learn how to apply.

If you’re already a licensed and practicing optician, the additional license to dispense contact lenses can help you offer increased value to employees and clients as well as increase your opportunities in the optical industry.

The ability to dispense contact lenses is a specialized skill, one that employers recognize as a great asset. This 1-year, independent study program is an advanced practice intended for licensed opticians that will require a qualified preceptor in your workplace to guide and directly supervise your clinical training. This training consists of 500 hours over 2 clinical practicum courses.
Aug 28, 2023

Quick Facts

Campus: Main

Any in-person components of your courses will be delivered at NAIT's Main Campus in Edmonton. View map

Delivery Options:

  • Online Flexible Delivery - Your course activity is not scheduled and therefore you can determine when to do the coursework.

Open Studies: Not Available

This program does not currently have any courses available for Open Studies.

International Students: Not Accepted

This program is not accepting international students for this intake.

Grad Employment Rate

Employment rates are reported by NAIT alumni, are for information purposes, and do not guarantee future employment opportunities. Please note that data for newer programs may not be included within this report.

Download report

Median Starting Salary: $51,662

Salaries are reported by NAIT alumni, are for information purposes, and are not a guarantee of future income.

View Career Outcomes

Hands-on, industry-relevant skills

This program is specifically focused on the fitting of contact lenses. You’ll be introduced to the art and science of contact lens fit, design, care and management of both soft and hard lenses. We will also discuss specialty lenses and examine required follow-up procedures.

This clinical consists of on-the-job training, which will allow you to practice what you’ve learned under the direct supervision of a practicing contact lens practitioner, optometrist or ophthalmologist. 

After completion

Upon completion of the program, you will receive a NAIT certificate that will provide proof of your advanced competency with contact lenses.

Canadian Applicants Outside of Alberta

If you are a Canadian resident outside of Alberta, please contact the Opticians Association of Canada (OAC) for registration information and an application package. Canadian residents outside of Alberta do not apply through the Alberta Post-Secondary Application System (APAS). If you apply in error, the application fee cannot be refunded.

Important note for residents of Lloydminster

If your practicum is located on the Alberta side of the border, you follow the same application process as the Canadian residents in Alberta (i.e., apply through APAS and complete your application checklist). If your practicum is located on the Saskatchewan side of the border, you follow the same application process as the Canadian residents outside of Alberta (i.e., DO NOT apply through APAS – contact the OAC instead).

Important note for residents of Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut

You follow the same application process as the Canadian residents in Alberta (i.e., apply through APAS and complete your application checklist).

International Students

Some NAIT programs are unavailable to international students because they do not meet eligibility for a study permit or Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). 

  • Study Permit: This program is delivered through distance learning and therefore does not meet the criteria for a study permit.
  • Co-Op: Due to this program not meeting the criteria of a study permit, it also does not meet the criteria for a Co-Op Work Permit.
  • Post-Graduation Work Permit: This program is delivered through distance learning and therefore is not eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Program. Completion of this program will not make you eligible for a PGWP.

International students who have questions about permissions to take this program can contact a NAIT Academic Advisor – International to discuss options.

Work Experience Placements

Students in this program gain valuable work experience with Work Integrated Learning (WIL). WIL is a form of experiential learning that integrates academic studies with relevant work-based learning. The WIL placement in this program is a Clinical Placement.

Clinical Placement

A Clinical Placement involves work experience under the supervision of an experienced registered or licensed professional (e.g. preceptor) in any discipline that requires practice-based work experience for professional licensure or certification. Practica are generally unpaid and the work is done in a supervised setting.

Duration 30 weeks
Compensation No
International Students Not Accepted
Placement Identified By Student - Submits resume to employers to apply for WIL positions.
Student Interview Required No

Benefits of a Clinical Placement

  • Understand more about career opportunities, expectations and requirements of the professional field
  • Gain the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world environment
  • Create networking opportunities in your chosen industry
  • Develop and improve communication, interpersonal and employment skills
  • Gain confidence in your professional skills
  • Practice job placement skills including job search, resume preparation, interviewing
  • Explore career options and program specialization within the industry
  • Improve application for future positions by gaining industry experience and increasing your employability
  • Possibility of employment after graduation
  • Potential financial benefits if the placement is paid

Contact

Career Outcomes

Work Experience Placements

Courses and Advanced Credit

Current and recently admitted students can find information and updates about their program on their My Program page in the MyNAIT Portal. To monitor your course progress and the courses still needed to graduate, visit your Academic Progress Report.

Advanced Credit

You may apply for advanced credit once you have been accepted into the program. Advanced credit can be Transfer Credit (for completed post-secondary courses) or PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition).

Transfer Credit

In addition to the common guidelines outlined on the Transfer and Credit Options section, your program has other advanced credit requirements that are applied to each request including:

  • You must have completed the course or program no more than 2 year(s) ago unless a formalized articulation agreement is in place
  • You must have a minimum mark of C in the course(s) or program

Read more about advanced credit or contact us about applying for credit for this program.

Courses

Expand each course below to see details about credits, requisites, scheduling, and more.

Tuition & Fees

Scholarships & Awards

The following scholarships and/or bursaries are available to you as a student in this program. To access your opportunities, visit the Student Portal.

Admission Requirements

Want to learn more about this program?

Thank you for your interest! We want to get you in contact with the right person to answer your questions. If you are a current or recently admitted student you can find program and course information as well as contact details for your program on the My Program page on the MyNAIT Portal.

General inquiries

Please contact the Student Service Centre for general inquiries such as:

  • Student application support
  • Program entrance requirements, tuition & fees, and how to apply
  • Program admissions process
  • Enrolment support
  • Student funding options
  • Fee and refund inquiries
  • General program and course withdrawal procedures
  • Navigating nait.ca and MyNAITPortal

Contact Student Service Centre

Program-specific questions

Please fill out the form below if you have any program-specific questions relating to:

  • Program details
  • Work-integrated learning and cooperative education
  • Advance credit and Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
  • Program and course withdrawal



The personal information on this form is being collected under the authority of the Post-secondary Learning Act and section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP). The information will be protected by the provisions of FOIP, and will be used for the purpose of registration and administration of the event. If you have any questions or concerns about the collection, use, security or disclosure of the personal information, please contact General Council at 780.471.7664 or legal@nait.ca.

Apply to NAIT

Learn how to register through Alberta Post-Secondary Application System (APAS) or begin the application process.

Apply now How to apply checklist
Shopping Cart Quick View
Open Shopping Cart