Fees & Costs
BC College of Optics offers a single course of instruction covering Ophthalmic Dispensing & Contact Lens Fitting, plus the basics of optical lab. Our tuition fee for the entire program is $13,670.00, plus approx $450.00 for textbooks.
School fees are paid on a monthly ‘pay-as-you-go’ basis and are interest-free, or (if you qualify) by government Student Loans.
Unfortunately, no BCCO Internet or distance-learning program is available, only our ‘in-house’ training.
Class Schedule
Our two (2)-semester, six (6)-month Day classes commence in the Spring and Fall of each year.
Next Available Class
Spring Afternoon Class
May 14th, 2018 – November 16th, 2018
Monday through Friday 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Fall Morning Class
September 10th, 2018 – March 12th, 2019
Monday through Friday 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
*Call BCCO for further information
Business: 604-581-0101
Toll Free: 1-877-581-0106
Fax: 604-581-0107
e-mail: [email protected]
*Registration is on a first-come first-serve basis
Admissions
Because of small class size, admission to BC College of Optics is limited and on a ‘first-come’ basis. Our Dispensing Optician/Contact Lens Fitter program has the following prerequisites:
(a) Grade 12, or equivalent, with elementary Algebra. or
(b) Mature Student (out of school a minimum of 2 years) with elementary Algebra.
A ‘no-charge’ math assessment test is available only if a high school transcript is unavailable. Registration is done “on a first-come basis”.
Please note that these Admission Policies may not be waived by either the student or the College.
International Students
BC College of Optics is also designated by Canada Immigration as a post-secondary education institution for Foreign Student Study Permit purposes. Contact our Program Director for details.
Registration Fee is $250.00 ($350.00 if outside North America). To save your seat register early.
Note: United States (US) residents may enrol in the BC College of Optics opticianry program without the necessity of first obtaining a Foreign Student Study Permit, since our course of instruction is not longer than six (6) months. Following graduation our US students will be in a excellent position to pass both their ABO and NCLE National certification examinations, held in major US cities each year.
Financial Aid
BC College of Optics is designated by Student Aid BC (BC Ministry of Advanced Education) as a post-secondary institution whose students may be eligible for both BC and Canada Student Loans.
Student Loans may be available to Landed Immigrants and to residents of BC who have resided in BC for the past twelve (12) months. Canadians living in other Provinces of Canada should contact their own Ministry of Advanced EducationStudent Financial Assistance Branch for information on qualifying for Canada and Provincial Student Loans while studying at an Out-of-Province institution such as BC College of Optics.
Note: Student Loans may take up to twelve (12) weeks to process, so students should apply for them early.
Job Placement
Although BC College of Optics is not a placement agency, we do try to assist all graduates to secure employment following graduation. BCCO graduates must pass Prior Learning Assessments (PLAR) to be a licensed optician in BC or may work unlicensed for an Optometrist. Most graduates find employment in BC’s optical field within three (3) months.
Class Size
BC College of Optics’s average class size is 13-14 students. Smaller class size means that our students are in a better position to receive individual attention should they find difficulty with portions of our program.
