Cert in Ophthalmic and Optometric Assisting is a certificate in Optometry programme taught at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary, Canada. The programme runs for 1 year, delivered in a hybrid format. Tuition for international students is CAD 21,151 per total (CAD 9,757 per total for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Certificate
Field:Optometry
Duration: 1 year
Delivery: Hybrid
Local tuition: CAD 9,757 / total
International tuition: CAD 21,151 / total
We have no an application deadline on record for this programme yet — see the official programme page.
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Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
This certificate program prepares students to support eye care professionals, including ophthalmologists, optometrists and opticians. Coursework covers the medical and scientific principles of eye care, vision terminology and procedures, combining classroom theory with hands-on lab practice and a required clinical practicum in an ophthalmology or optometry clinic. The credential requires 27 credits across nine courses, completed over two semesters of full-time study delivered in a blended format at Main Campus and online. Graduates are prepared for entry-level roles in private eye care clinics, corporate eye care practices and surgical eye centres, and the program aligns with the International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (IJCAHPO) competency guidelines. Completion also satisfies the admission requirements for SAIT's Optician diploma program; because the curriculum matches the diploma's first semester, graduates can complete the Optician diploma with one and a half additional years of study. Practicum placements are assigned based on student preference where possible, though limited availability in Calgary may require some students to travel or relocate.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Applicants educated in Canada must demonstrate English language proficiency and meet the following high school course requirements or equivalents: at least 60% in English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2, at least 60% in Math 30-1 or 30-2, and at least 60% in Biology 30 or Science 30. Applicants educated outside Alberta may meet requirements through SAIT-accepted high school course equivalents, and applicants educated outside of Canada must demonstrate English language proficiency and provide an international document assessment confirming they meet the program's admission requirements. Beginning in the 2027/28 academic year, applicants must either meet these requirements or have completed SAIT's Pre-Health Sciences program.
