Doctors of Optometry (O.D.) provide the major portion of vision care in the United States. Optometrists are health care professionals who are specifically educated, clinically trained and licensed to examine the eyes, diagnose problems and provide treatment. They examine the eyes for the presence of vision problems, eye diseases and other abnormalities. Optometry school is four years in length. The Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) is required of all applicants.
Minimum Required Courses
- Biology
BIO 123 General Biology
BIO 222 Cell and Molecular Biology
BIO 325 Microbiology
BIO 363-364 Human Anatomy and Physiology - Chemistry
CHM 111-112 General Chemistry
CHM 201-202 Organic Chemistry
CHM 415 Biochemistry - Physics
PHY 101-102 General Physics - Psychology
PSY 101 General Psychology - English
ENG 101 Expository Writing - Mathematics
MTH 121 Elementary Functions
MTH 222 Calculus - Humanities
2 semesters - Sociology or Anthropology
2 semesters
Special Considerations
- Additional Courses
- BIO 403 Cadaver Prosection
- MTH 210 Elementary Statistics
- Shadowing experience
Admissions Test
Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) -- Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry Home Page
Application
- Apply to programs directly
- Check individual programs for application requirements
- What schools look for:
- the interview
- undergraduate course work
- grades
- knowledge of profession
- interpersonal communications skills