CSAO Performance Reports are provided to the candidates only. Six weeks following each administration each candidate will be mailed two “sealed” copies of their results; one copy is provided for submission the provincial or territorial regulatory body to which the candidate has applied, or will apply for license or certificate of registration to practice optometry, the second copy is intended for the candidate’s personal records.

CSAO results are used by regulators to make decisions about authorizing optometrists to practice. Therefore, if and where necessary, CSAO performance results will be validated by CEO and reported to the regulators on written request from the regulator or written permission of candidate.

Regulators have specified that candidates for licensure or registration must pass all components of the CSAO concurrently, subsequent to graduation from a recognized academic and clinical program in optometry and prior to entering practice. Furthermore, the regulators have agreed that strong performance in one component of the CSAO does not make up for deficiencies in other components.