Optometrists, Chiropractors and Other Health Diagnosing and Treating Professionals (NOC 312)

What They Do Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat, manage, and prevent diseases/disorders of the eye, and prescribe and dispense eyeglasses/contact lenses. Chiropractors diagnose and treat disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system with manipulation and other techniques, and provide holistic health care. Osteopathic physicians diagnose, treat, and prescribe for patients' medical, surgical, and obstetrical problems. Their training includes an emphasis on the use of the musculoskeletal system in restoring health. Naturopathic doctors diagnose, treat and prevent diseases/disorders using natural non-invasive therapies and hands-on techniques such as acupuncture/Asian medicine, botanical (herbal) medicine, clinical nutrition, homeopathic medicine, physical medicine, and lifestyle counselling.

Where They Find Work —    Top Occupational Areas Health care and social assistance 94% Retail trade 4% People in this group work in clinics, community health centres, and hospitals; in private practice; and as consultants to business. The unionization rate (51%) is above the average (32%) for all occupations. The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of Optommetrists, Chiropractors and Other Health Diagnosing and Treating Professionnals are found in Ontario and Quebec while the lowest concentrations are in Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.

Related Occupation(s) Occupational Therapists (NOC 3143) Physiotherapists (NOC 3142) Other Technical Occupations in Health Care (Except Dental) (NOC 323) General Practitioners and Family Physicians (NOC 3112) Specialist Physicians (NOC 3111)

Something to Think About To enhance your professional knowledge and broaden your opportunities, consider: Keeping constantly updated in your specialty Improving interpersonal skills Learning business management Finding out about telemedicine

Use the "Where They Find Work" graph to target your worksearch. It may be easier to get into industries with the most people in this field. Want to work in an industry that hires fewer workers in this field? To be more marketable, check out whether you have the most up-to-date knowledge and technology skills for that industry. Check the provincial/territorial or local information (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca) for opportunities in your area.

What You Need In general, you must complete a college or university program, and you may need a licence for the province/territory where you'll work as well as membership in a professional association. To be an optometrist, you need a three-year college program with mathematics/science courses and a four-year university degree in optometry, and you must pass the Canadian Standard Assessment in optometry and provincial/territorial exams. To be a chiropractor, you must complete three years of university science studies, obtain a degree from an accredited chiropractic college, and pass the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board and provincial/territorial exams. To be an orthoptist, you need two years' education after high school in a science specialization, two years' hospital-based training, and supervised practical training. To be an osteopathic physician, you need a university degree, a four-year osteopathic medicine program, and two to five years of post-graduate training. Most recent entrants have an undergraduate university degree.

Required/Related    Educational Programs* This will let you explore the program(s) of study that lead to this (these) occupation(s). Nursing - Other (C561) Commerce - Business Administration (M120) Health - Other (M523) Health - Other (U523) *  These educational programs are listed in the order in which they are most likely to supply graduates to this occupation.

Useful Experience/Skills Multidisciplinary teamwork Business and financial management Committee work Interpersonal skills Community involvement		Useful High School Subjects Math Biology Chemistry Physics English
Depending on your background, this Education, Training, and Experience info will help you to: Choose your high school courses Plan your post-secondary program Choose relevant volunteer work Decide what new skills to learn Read job ads, professional journals, and newspapers for what the industry needs and employers want. Talk to employers and employees to find out the exceptional skills and knowledge that will help you land a job.

Current Conditions Your work prospects are rated GOOD because: Employement grew at an above-average rate. Hourly wages ($21.37) are close to the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is above average. The unemployment rate (1%) is below the 2004 average (7%).

Work Prospects Current   Good   2009   Good

Outlook to 2009 Your work prospects will continue to be GOOD because: The employment growth rate will likely be above average; however, the funding of the health care system, the expansion of the services coverage by the insurance and the ageing population should create job openings. Although the retirement rate will likely be average, the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings. The number of job openings will likely exceed the number of job seekers.

Preparing for the Competition You'll have to continually update your skills in new diagnosing/treatment technologies.

If you are beginning your career investigation, national outlooks will give you a good overview of trends. Ready to explore an occupation in more detail? Check provincial/territorial or local outlooks (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca).

What you can expect to make (Average Hourly Earnings ($/hour))
Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 $16.50 $11.74 25-54 $20.95 $19.76 55+   $19.59 Overall Average for Ages (20+) This Occupation All Occupations $21.37 $18.07		Hourly wages ($21.37) are close to the national average ($18.07). These earnings are close to the average for occupations in the health sector and below average for all professional occupations. These wages grew at an above-average rate from 2002 to 2004.
Your salary can be affected by your background, the company's size and benefits, and the region and setting (urban or rural). Check out salaries in your own region by seeking info from: Employees/unions/associations Employers/human resource people Training institutions and placement services Company websites Professional/trade journals

Below the average
The unemployment rate (1%) is below the 2004 average (7%). This rate is below the average for professionnal occupations. A low unemployment rate often means less competition for the jobs available. But you still need to have the required training and experience. A high unemployment rate doesn't necessarily mean you'll have great difficulty getting hired. But it can mean a fluctuating demand for workers, and you may experience bouts of unemployment.		Year This Occupation All Occupations 1991 1% 10% 1992 0% 11% 1993 1% 11% 1994 0% 10% 1995 0% 10% 1996 1% 10% 1997 2% 9% 1998 1% 8% 1999 2% 8% 2000 0% 7% 2001 0% 7% 2002 1% 8% 2003 0% 8% 2004 1% 7%

% of Part-time work is above average
This Occupation All Occupations Full-time 74% 81% Part-time 26% 19%		There were 14,100 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, an increase of 23% since 1997. The percentage of part-time workers (26%) is above the 2004 average (19%) and has stayed about the same since 1997.
When full-time work is difficult to find, look at alternatives such as contract work, consulting, shared positions, and telework.

Above average
The percentage of self-employed workers (88%) is above the 2004 average of 15% and has risen since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Self-Employed 88% 15%
Does this occupation have an above-average rate of self-employment? Consider being your own boss if you can't find work with an employer.

Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 1% 10% 25-54 85% 72% 55+ 13% 12%		The relatively low percentage of younger workers suggests few entry-level job openings, and could point to a greater need for workers with experience or a number of years of training. The retirement rate to 2009 will likely be average reflecting the age/retirement structure of the occupation.
Look at the youngest group. A low percentage means fewer openings for brand-new workers. A high percentage means more openings for brand-new workers. Look at the oldest age group. A high percentage means positions could open up from retirements. This could be significant for both mid-career changers and brand-new workers.

Average
The percentage of women is 52% compared to the 2004 average of 48% and has dropped since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Percent Women 52% 48%

This page last modified on: 2007-03-31