How to Become an Optometrist: Steps and Requirements in

How to Become an Optometrist: Key Prerequisites for Optometry School

To become an optometrist, you must first complete an undergraduate degree with courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and math. Much like medical school prerequisites, some schools also recommend psychology and anatomy. Meeting these prerequisites demonstrates readiness for the rigorous optometry curriculum and ensures a well-rounded scientific foundation. Maintaining a strong GPA is critical, as is preparing for the Optometry Admission Test (OAT).

Many applicants also gain practical education in optometry through shadowing optometrists, clinical experience, or working in healthcare settings.

Let’s break it down further:

Requirements in the USA

Becoming an optometrist in the USA usually requires 7-8 years of postsecondary education in total. You will begin by completing a 3- or 4-year Bachelor’s program, and then attend a 4-year optometry program to receive your Doctor of Optometry degree (OD).

All optometry schools in the United States are accredited by the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO). There are currently 23 accredited schools in total, one of which is located in Puerto Rico. A full list of accredited schools is available on the ASCO website; the ACSO recommends you complete the following:

• 1 year of Biology
• 1 year of General Chemistry
• 1 year of Organic Chemistry
• 1 year of General Physics
• 1 year of Microbiology
• 1 year of Mathematics
• 1 year of English

Taking the OAT

I am sure many of your have heard of the importance of the MCAT score for med applicants. Well, optometry schools have their own equivalent! All of the accredited optometry schools in the United States require that applicants take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) before applying to a school of optometry; this test can be taken after you’ve completed 2-3 years of your Bachelor’s and you can take it up to THREE times.

The standard fee to take the test is $515 USD. The OAT is a multiple-choice exam divided into four sections: Survey of Natural Sciences (Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry); Reading Comprehension; Physics, and Quantitative Reasoning. The test is offered only in English. 

Note: Some schools will accept results from GRE, MCAT, DAT, or PCAT as an equivalent for this requirement, so be sure to check with your school of choice beforehand if you have already passed one of the above exams. 

Requirements in Canada

Canada has two optometry schools:

1. University of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science (Ontario)
2. Université de Montréal, École d'optométrie (Quebec)

Note: If you wish to study exclusively in French, you will have to attend the École d’Optométrie at the Université de Montréal.

Becoming an optometrist in Canada usually takes the same amount of time as it does in the United States. A Doctor of Optometry degree is usually between $60,000 and $70,000 CDN in total tuition costs. 

To give you a detailed overview of what it takes to become an optometrist in Canada, we will focus on the application procedures for the School of Optometry at the University of Waterloo. 

Undergraduate Degree and Prerequisites 

The School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of Waterloo requires a minimum of three years of a Bachelor of Science degree (BSc). You may choose any science program you like for your undergraduate degree, and it can be completed at any accredited university in Canada.

You must maintain a minimum overall average of 75% in your full-time Bachelor’s program to qualify as an applicant. The following undergraduate prerequisites are also required from all applicants, and must be completed before entry into the optometry program:

• 1 term of English
• 1 term of an introductory Psychology course
• 1 term of an introductory Ethics or Biomedical Ethics course
• 1 full year of Biology with lab component
• 1 term of introductory Microbiology
• 1 full year of Physiology (human or mammalian)
• 1 term of introductory or general Chemistry with lab component
• 1 term of introductory Biochemistry
• 1 term of introductory Organic Chemistry
• 1 term of Calculus
• 1 term of Statistics
• 1 full year of Physics with lab component

How to Become an Optometrist: Applying to Optometry School

To get an idea of what you're up against, let's look at your competition. According to recent data from the ASCO, the average cumulative GPA of optometry applicants was between 3.42 and 3.54. Other recent ASCO data suggests that the average GPA of recent admitted applicants is as high as 3.67 (Michigan College of Optometry) or even 3.7 (College of Optometry, Ohio State University)!

Anyone wishing to apply to a school of optometry in the USA must submit their application through OptomCAS – Optometry’s Centralized Application Service. The system opens for applications at the end of June/beginning of July every year. You will pay a fee of $187 USD to apply to your first school, and an additional $80 USD fee for any additional schools you apply to.

Each school is different, and you need to check their specific prerequisites and admissions criteria before applying to make sure you are a good fit for their program. However, the ASCO offers the following overview of the essential traits a strong applicant should have:

• Strong academic profile
• Deductive reasoning
• Interpersonal communication skills
• Empathy
• Leadership
• Work ethic
• Community service
• Extracurriculars

Applying to Optometry School in Canada (University of Waterloo)

The overall acceptance rates at the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of Waterloo is 30%

Admissions Statistics

• Spot Available: 90
• Overall Acceptance Rate: 30%
• Minimum GPA: 75%
• Average GPA of Matriculants: 87%
• The Average OAT: 382

To apply to the optometry program at the University of Waterloo, you will have to submit an application through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) – the same online application system you used to apply to your undergraduate program.

Taking the CASPer Test

All Doctor of Optometry program applicants are also required to take a CASPer test. Check CASPer test dates before you apply, as you will have to reserve one of the specified test dates for yourself.

Are you preparing for your CASPer? Check out our video for important tips for how to ace your test:

How to Become an Optometrist: What to Expect When You're Accepted

Curriculum

Once you are accepted into an optometry school, you will need to complete all of the requirements of the 4-year program.

A typical US curriculum will include two years of classroom study, followed by a mix of classroom and clinical instruction in the final two years. There are currently 258 optometric residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) available in the United States.

The curriculum of a Canadian optometry program includes two years of intensive classroom study in subjects such as optics, pharmacology, ocular disease, and anatomy, followed by two years of clinical rotations. In these final two years, students complete hands-on training in various clinics, working directly with patients under the supervision of licensed optometrists. At the University of Waterloo, students rotate through specialty clinics in ocular health, contact lenses, low vision, and pediatric care.

Residency

Optometry residencies typically last one year and offer advanced training in a clinical setting. Post-graduate residencies are not always mandatory to practice as an optometrist, but they are highly recommended to improve your chances of employment. You can pursue post-graduate residencies in specialties such as ocular disease, vision therapy, or low vision rehabilitation.

Tuition

The costs of attending an optometry program vary from school to school. On average, optometry school tuition for in-state (US) students ranges from around $29,000 to $37,000 per year, while for non-residents, the cost increases significantly, with figures as high as $44,000 to $54,000 annually​.

In Canada, it ranges from $23,000 to $40,000 annually, with the higher end of that range being for international students.  

Licensing Examinations

The National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) administers the standard entry-to-practice examinations. There are three different candidate categories.

1. Students currently enrolled in an optometry program may sit the first part of the three-part exam during their third year of study. They may then sit the second part as early as December of their academic graduation year, and the third part on or after August 1st of their academic graduation year.
2. Graduates of accredited schools of optometry are eligible to sit the entire exam.
3. “Sponsored candidates” – those who are not current students or graduates of an accredited school – are those sponsored by a state licensure board of optometry or accredited school to sit the exam. The NBEO must receive the letter of sponsorship before the exam can be taken.   

To practice in Canada, you will need to pass the Canadian Assessment of Competence in Optometry (CACO), administered by the Optometry Examining Board of Canada (OEBC). This comprehensive examination assesses both clinical and theoretical knowledge. The exam is usually taken in the final year of optometry school or after graduation. Each province also has its own licensing requirements, which may include a jurisprudence exam that assesses knowledge of the laws governing optometry practice in that region.

Note: Licensure is mandatory to practice and must be maintained through continuing education courses. Each country’s board offers guidance on fulfilling these requirements to ensure optometrists remain updated on advancements in the field.

Optometry Practice and Compensation in the US

Even after you become fully licensed as an optometrist in your state, your learning will not stop! Optometrists must be life-long learners willing to continuously improve their knowledge and skills. All states require practicing optometrists to take continuing education courses to qualify for a license renewal. 

According to data from the American Optometric Association, the average earnings for an optometrist in the USA are $144,547 USD per year.

Qualifying as an International Graduate in the US

If you studied optometry outside of the United States, there are three different pathways you can take to become licensed to practice in an American state. The three pathways are:

1. Complete a customized program for international graduates. Both the New England College of Optometry and the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University offer a customized curriculum for students who have already graduated from an international optometry program. 
2. Get admitted with “Advanced Standing”. There are several accredited schools in the USA that offer “Advanced Standing” admittance to international medical graduates in optometry. The schools that offer this option are: the Illinois College of Optometry, the New England School of Optometry, Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry, Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University, and the New York State College of Optometry.
3. Be “sponsored” to sit a 3-part NBEO examination. Your third option is to be “sponsored” by a state license board of optometry or accredited institution to take an examination offered by the NBEO. The exam is in three parts, and you must successfully pass both the first and second part before being permitted to sit the third part. For more information about potential sponsorship, you should contact the relevant license board or accredited school in your state.  

Optometry Practice and Compensation in Canada

After graduation, you will establish yourself by either working in an existing optometrist practice, buying an existing one, or starting a new practice yourself. Most optometrists in Canada work in private practices that they own or co-own with other optometrists.

The average earnings of an optometrist in Canada can vary according to location and the hours worked, but recent data from the federal Job Bank of Canada suggests that the median wage is $86,115 CDN per year and can go up to a high of $167,858 CDN per year.   

Qualifying as an International Graduate in Canada

If you graduated from an international program in optometry and wish to practice in Canada, you will need to contact the Federation of Optometric Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FORAC). You will be required to undergo the following process:

1. Review the Optometry course descriptions published by the University of Waterloo. Is your education comparable?
2. Obtain a World Education Services (WES-ICAP) credential evaluation report.
3. If you did not take your degree in English, you must complete the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum overall average of 7.5 and with no individual score lower than 7.0, or the CanTest with a 4.5 minimum overall average and with no individual score lower than 4.0.
4. Complete the FORAC application for credential assessment. The fees for this assessment usually total $2,542 CDN (tax included). Note that all of the documentation you submit as part of your application must be either originally in English, or translated into English by a certified translator.
5. Take the Internationally Graduated Optometrist Evaluating Exam (IGOEE), administered by the Touchstone Institute.
6. Once you have satisfied the above requirements, you will complete the Canadian Assessment in Competence in Optometry (OEBC) exam, offered by the Optometry Examining Board of Canada.
7. If successful, you will then contact the regulatory authority in your province of choice to register as a practicing optometrist. 

FAQs

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

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