PracticeVideosBlogFlashcardsEspañol
All Practice Exams

100+ Free OEBC OSCE Component Practice Questions

Prepare for the Optometry Examining Board of Canada Entry-to-Practice Examination — OSCE Component exam with instant access — no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately
100+ Questions
100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More Canada Allied Health Registration Exams

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE) Written Component

Practice Questions

Canadian Dietetic Registration Examination (CDRE)

Practice Questions

Canadian Entry-to-Practice Examination in Audiology

Practice Questions

Canadian Entry-to-Practice Examination in Speech-Language Pathology

Practice Questions

Canadian Midwifery Registration Exam

Practice Questions

College of Kinesiologists of Ontario Registration Exam (R.Kin) (Canada)

Practice Questions
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: OEBC OSCE Component Exam

CAD $3,540

OEBC OSCE examination fee

oebc.ca/taking-the-exam/exam-fees

12

Clinical stations in OEBC OSCE

OEBC Candidate Guide 2026

~2 hours

Total examination duration

OEBC Candidate Guide 2026

OEBC OSCE tests clinical optometric competence across 12 stations: ocular disease (30%), refraction/binocular vision (20%), contact lenses (15%), diagnostic techniques (15%), communication/safety (10%), and ocular pharmacology (10%). Exam fee CAD $3,540 (2026 OEBC specifications).

Sample OEBC OSCE Component Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your OEBC OSCE Component exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A 45-year-old patient presents for an OSCE contact lens evaluation with acute red eye, severe ocular pain, photophobia, and a 1.5 mm white focal corneal infiltrate with an overlying epithelial defect that stains with fluorescein. The patient routinely sleeps in extended-wear soft contact lenses. What is the immediate clinical management?
A.Discontinue contact lens wear immediately, perform a corneal swab/culture if indicated, and initiate intensive topical fluoroquinolone monotherapy (e.g., moxifloxacin or fortified antibiotics)
B.Prescribe topical corticosteroid drops alone every 2 hours
C.Apply an ocular pressure patch over the affected eye for 48 hours
D.Advise the patient to switch to daily disposable contact lenses immediately without antibiotic treatment
Explanation: Bacterial keratitis in contact lens wearers (commonly Pseudomonas aeruginosa) is a sight-threatening emergency. Immediate cessation of contact lens wear, culturing large or central lesions, and starting intensive topical fluoroquinolones (or fortified tobramycin/vancomycin) is required.
2During a contact lens station, an examiner asks you to fit a soft toric contact lens for an astigmatic patient. After insertion, the lens mislocates 10 degrees to the clinician's LEFT (clockwise rotation). According to the LARS rule (Left Add, Right Subtract), how should the SPECTACLE CYLINDER AXIS of 180 degrees be adjusted for the ordered contact lens?
A.Order an axis of 010 degrees (180 + 10 = 010)
B.Order an axis of 170 degrees (180 - 10 = 170)
C.Order an axis of 090 degrees
D.Maintain the axis at 180 degrees with double the cylinder power
Explanation: LARS rule: Left Add, Right Subtract. If the lens rotates 10 degrees to the observer's left (clockwise), add 10 degrees to the spectacle axis (180 + 10 = 010 degrees).
3A 22-year-old rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lens wearer exhibits an apical clearance fluorescein pattern ('steep fit') with central fluorescein pooling under the lens. How should the RGP lens parameters be modified to achieve an alignment fit?
A.Flatten the base curve (increase base curve radius in mm)
B.Steepen the base curve (decrease base curve radius in mm)
C.Increase the overall lens diameter by 2.0 mm without altering base curve
D.Add 1.00 D of prism ballast
Explanation: Central fluorescein pooling indicates a steep fit (base curve radius is too small / curve is too steep). Flattening the base curve (increasing the radius of curvature in mm) reduces central vaulting and aligns the lens.
4A long-time soft contact lens wearer presents with bilateral upper eyelid itchiness, mucous discharge, and decreased lens tolerance. Eversion of the upper tarsal conjunctiva reveals large cobblestone papillae (>1.0 mm). What is the primary diagnosis?
A.Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis (GPC) / Contact Lens-Induced Papillary Conjunctivitis (CLPC)
B.Bacterial conjunctivitis
C.Herpetic epithelial keratitis
D.Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis
Explanation: Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis (GPC) is an immune/mechanical response to contact lens surface deposits or mechanical trauma, characterized by large upper tarsal conjunctival papillae (>1 mm), itching, and mucous discharge.
5In an OSCE station evaluating slit lamp biomicroscopy of corneal endothelial integrity, what specialized illumination technique is required to view endothelial cell size and shape (specular reflex)?
A.Specular Reflection
B.Sclerotic Scatter
C.Direct Focal Illumination (Optic Section)
D.Retroillumination from the Iris
Explanation: Specular reflection aligns the angle of incidence equal to the angle of reflection (approx 45 degrees) to view the specular glare off the posterior corneal surface, highlighting endothelial cell mosaic and guttata.
6A 19-year-old soft contact lens wearer presents with peripheral, non-staining, focal stromal infiltrates in both eyes with minimal anterior chamber cell. The infiltrates are separated from the limbus by a clear zone. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A.Contact Lens-Induced Peripheral Ulcer (CLPU) / Sterile Corneal Infiltrate
B.Acanthamoeba keratitis
C.Fungal keratitis
D.Corneal hydrops
Explanation: CLPU presents as sterile, small, peripheral stromal infiltrates resulting from immune reaction to bacterial endotoxins (e.g., Staph aureus) on contact lenses, characteristically lacking severe epithelial loss or anterior chamber reaction.
7What oxygen transmissibility parameter (Dk/t) was established by Holden and Mertz for daily wear and extended wear contact lenses to avoid corneal edema?
A.Daily wear: 24 Dk/t; Extended wear: 87 Dk/t
B.Daily wear: 5 Dk/t; Extended wear: 10 Dk/t
C.Daily wear: 100 Dk/t; Extended wear: 500 Dk/t
D.Daily wear: 0 Dk/t; Extended wear: 15 Dk/t
Explanation: Holden and Mertz criteria state that a minimum Dk/t of 24 is required for daily wear to prevent overnight corneal edema, and 87 Dk/t for extended wear (overnight). Silicone hydrogel materials comfortably exceed these thresholds.
8A patient rinsing contact lenses with tap water presents with excruciating ocular pain out of proportion to clinical signs. Slit lamp exam reveals perineural corneal infiltrates (radial keratoneuritis). What pathogen is suspected?
A.Acanthamoeba species
B.Pseudomonas aeruginosa
C.Herpes Simplex Virus
D.Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis (Adenovirus)
Explanation: Tap water exposure in contact lens wearers is the primary risk factor for Acanthamoeba keratitis. Signature clinical features include severe pain out of proportion to early signs and radial keratoneuritis.
9During corneal topography interpretation, a butterfly-like or asymmetric cloverleaf elevation pattern with inferior steepening and a corneal thickness of 440 microns at the apex is diagnostic for what ectatic dystrophy?
A.Keratoconus
B.Fuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy
C.Map-Dot-Fingerprint Dystrophy
D.Lattice Corneal Dystrophy
Explanation: Keratoconus displays asymmetric inferior corneal steepening on topography, apical corneal thinning (<500 microns), Fleischer ring (iron deposition), and Vogt striae.
10What scleral contact lens landing zone parameter adjustment is made when the haptic zone impinges on conjunctival blood vessels, causing localized vessel blanching?
A.Flatten the haptic/landing zone (increase landing zone angle / loosen alignment)
B.Steepen the haptic zone
C.Increase central vault by 500 microns
D.Decrease overall diameter by 4 mm
Explanation: Conjunctival vessel blanching indicates excessive pressure from a tight haptic landing zone. Flattening or lifting the landing zone relieves compression on underlying episcleral vessels.

About the OEBC OSCE Component Exam

The OEBC OSCE component is the practical clinical assessment for Canadian optometry licensure. Candidates rotate through 12 stations testing clinical reasoning, ocular disease diagnosis, refraction, contact lens fitting, instrumentation interpretation, and patient communication skills.

Assessment

Objective Structured Clinical Examination evaluating clinical decision-making, history taking, diagnostic skill, patient safety, communication, and management choices in realistic clinical stations.

Time Limit

Approximately 2 hours (12 station rotations, 8 min per station plus 2 min reading time)

Passing Score

Borderline Regression Method standard setting

Exam Fee

CAD $3,540 OSCE examination fee (confirm on oebc.ca/taking-the-exam/exam-fees) (Optometry Examining Board of Canada (OEBC))

OEBC OSCE Component Exam Content Outline

30%

Ocular Disease Diagnosis & Management

Glaucoma, anterior and posterior segment pathology, neuro-ophthalmology, and urgent care.

20%

Refraction & Binocular Vision

Reflective refractive analysis, amblyopia, strabismus, and vergence dysfunction.

15%

Contact Lenses & Corneal Management

Soft and specialty RGP lens fitting, keratoconus, and keratitis complications.

15%

Clinical Skills & Diagnostic Technique

Slit lamp, gonioscopy, Goldmann applanation, OCT, and visual field interpretation.

10%

Patient Communication, Ethics & Safety

OEBC station communication rubric, informed consent, lay language explanation, and safety.

10%

Ocular Pharmacology & Systemic Disease

Topical therapeutics, anti-glaucoma drugs, and systemic disease manifestations.

How to Pass the OEBC OSCE Component Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Borderline Regression Method standard setting
  • Assessment: Objective Structured Clinical Examination evaluating clinical decision-making, history taking, diagnostic skill, patient safety, communication, and management choices in realistic clinical stations.
  • Time limit: Approximately 2 hours (12 station rotations, 8 min per station plus 2 min reading time)
  • Exam fee: CAD $3,540 OSCE examination fee (confirm on oebc.ca/taking-the-exam/exam-fees)

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

OEBC OSCE Component Study Tips from Top Performers

1Practice interpreting OCT macular scans, visual field printouts (Humphrey 24-2), and gonioscopic angle gradings under time pressure.
2Review OEBC patient communication rubrics—explain complex conditions (e.g. wet AMD vs dry AMD, open-angle glaucoma) clearly in lay terms without jargon.
3Master ocular pharmacology drug classes, contraindications (e.g., non-selective beta-blockers in severe asthma), and side-effect profiles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the OEBC OSCE Component?

The OEBC OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) is one of two mandatory components of the Canadian optometry entry-to-practice examination, assessing clinical decision-making, patient communication, and technical skills across 12 stations.

How is the OEBC OSCE scored?

The OEBC uses the Borderline Regression Method to set passing cut-scores objectively based on examiner ratings across all stations.

Does this practice bank simulate the physical OSCE stations?

No. This practice bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation focused on clinical reasoning, diagnostic interpretation, pharmacological choices, safety protocols, and station communication decision-making.