Practicing Optometry

What are the steps required to become licensed to practice optometry?

Overview

Important: This page offers a general overview of the credentialing process. Because requirements are subject to change, it is your responsibility to consult your provincial/state regulatory body for the most current information. While we update this content annually, please verify all details directly with the appropriate authorities to ensure you are compliant with local practice standards. OzTREKK is not responsible for your credentialing process.​

 

The University of Melbourne Doctor of Optometry is the only four-year graduate-entry optometry program in Australia. To be eligible to apply for all steps required to practice optometry in Canada after graduation, your international optometry degree needs to be four years.

The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) is the sole accrediting body for professional optometric degrees, optometric residency programs, and optometric technician programs in Canada and the United States. ACOE-accredited optometric degrees only exist in Canada, the United States, and Puerto Rico. This means that optometry programs offered anywhere else in the world, including in Australia, are not ACOE-accredited.

Graduates of optometry programs that are not accredited by the ACOE but who want to practice optometry in Canada or the United States are required to complete an Advanced Standing Optometry Preparatory Program (ASOPP), such as that offered by the University of Waterloo in Ontario.

Practicing in Canada

Step #1 – Graduate with a Doctor of Optometry degree or equivalent
According to the Federation of Optometric Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FORAC), if you’ve completed your optometry outside of the Canada or the United States, you may need to look into additional education or training in ocular health and therapeutics in your institution’s jurisdiction.

Step #2 – Have credentials assessed by the Federation of Optometric Authorities of Canada (FORAC)
The FORAC credential assessment is what determines if an applicant can take the IGOEE (Step 3). Please note, FORAC requires a 4-year optometry program, and also 3 years of either undergraduate university science studies or full-time work experience as a licensed optometrist before applicants are permitted to apply to FORAC.

Step #3 – Take the Internationally Graduated Optometrist Evaluating Examination (IGOEE)
If FORAC deems your credentials to be equivalent to the University of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science professional program, you will write the IGOEE. This exam determines whether an applicant can proceed directly to the OEBC Exam (Step 5) or whether a bridging program is required first.

Only those who score “exceptionally well” on the IGOEE will be able to directly challenge the OEBC. You should anticipate having to take the ASOPP program as part of the certification process as it may be required.

Step #4 – Advanced Standing Optometry Preparatory Program (ASOPP)
Applicants who successfully pass the IGOEE will need to apply to the Advanced Standing Optometry Preparatory Program (ASOPP) offered by the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science (WOVS).

Admission for the ASOPP is based on IGOEE scores (above, Step 3), results of a CASPER assessment, and an interview. Meeting the minimum eligibility threshold on the IGOEE does not guarantee an offer of admission to the ASOPP.

It is important to understand that the demand for the ASOPP typically exceeds the program capacity. Offers are sent in late fall for the program to start in April the following year.

Step #5 – Pass the Canadian Assessment in Competence in Optometry Exam
The Optometry Examining Board of Canada (OEBC) issues the OEBC entry-to-practice exam. This exam is designed to evaluate that you have the necessary competencies to practice optometry safely and effectively in Canada. The exam consists of a written component and an OSCE clinical exam.

Step #6 – Register with your provincial optometric regulatory authority
If you successfully pass the OEBC exam you’ll need to register with your province’s optometric regulatory authority. This is the last step before you’re able to practice as an optometrist in Canada.

 

Please contact the regulatory body in the province where you wish to practice for more details about licensing requirements and processes.

Practicing in Australia

The Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ) is responsible for accrediting optometrists wishing to practice in Australia and New Zealand. OCANZ assesses programs of study in Australia and assesses overseas qualified optometrists seeking registration in Australia and New Zealand. The University of Melbourne’s Doctor of Optometry is Accredited by OCANZ (approved until 2031).

Graduates of accredited Australian programs must register with the Optometry Board of Australia before practicing in the country. You can check out the Optometry Board’s registration page for more information on the process.

Graduates of Melbourne’s Doctor of Optometry program are eligible to apply for Australian Registration (OCANZ). If successful, you will then apply for a skills assessment. This entails submitting a form to provide information about yourself, your qualifications, and your Optometry Board of Australia registration details. Once your skills assessment is approved you will then be able to apply for general skilled migration to Australia.

Australia’s skilled visa programs are designed to target genuine skill shortages in Australia, one of those being optometrists. This means that there are specific visas available to individuals who are qualified to work or train as an optometrist in Australia and can meet all other requirements. You are strongly advised to contact the Australian Department of Home Affairs either here in Canada or while you are in Australia for full details.

Practicing in USA

Those interested in practicing as an optometrist in the United States after completing an optometry degree in Australia should contact their state’s optometry board before they apply to their chose program in Australia to confirm state-level education requirements.

Each state has its own state board of optometry that sets specific rules for credentialling and licensure. The National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) and the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO) are responsible for helping to standardize these processes across states.

According to the American Optometric Association, if you’ve studied optometry outside of the United States you will need to get an American optometry school or state board to sponsor you before you can go onto write the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) exam that is required for licensure.

You will likely need to apply for a program with a customized curriculum for international graduates or apply to participate in an Advanced Standing program. Either option typically results in the applicant possibly getting some credit for previously completed optometry courses to then join a second-year or beyond cohort in a US-based optometry program. You would then graduate from that American optometry program.

After you successfully achieve sponsorship or complete your additional studies you will then need to complete the three-part NBEO exam. If you’re undertaking additional studies this exam may be incorporated into your studies. Depending on your state of practice you may also need to undertake jurisprudence exams.

Once you have successfully completed these exam(s) you can then apply to your state-level optometry board for licensure.

FAQs

Can my partner or family come to Australia with me if I get an offer? 

Many Canadians wish to fulfill their career goals after getting married, having kids, or both! We’ve had plenty of students who have taken their partner and/or children with them.

If you want to take your partner or family with you, you’ll need to add them as a secondary applicant or dependents to your student visa application. Even if you don’t plan on taking them with you, we suggest you add them to your application anyway because it can be complex, expensive, and time-consuming to add them afterwards. You’ll then need to provide additional documentation to support your claims of a relationship or your children’s dependency status.

In addition to looking after the visa, you’ll also need to ensure they’re included on your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), you have appropriate accommodation, and if you’re bringing children, you’ll need to enroll them in school.

Visit our Health Insurance page for more information.

Can my entire application be submitted through OzTREKK?

Absolutely. We manage and submit your application(s) on your behalf and communicate any updates from the universities.

Applying to an Australian or New Zealand university starts by filling out our OzTREKK application: You’ll tell us a bit about yourself, like your name, address, date of birth, education history, and what schools you want to apply to!

When you click “Submit,” the application with all your information only comes to us, so there’s no need to worry about making a mistake at this stage. We create a file for you and email you a list of documents required to complete your application(s), like passport photo page, transcripts, résumé, personal statement.

If you get an offer, we’ll help you with that part, too! Whether you want to accept or decline, we’ll help you figure out your next steps. If you accept your offer, we’ll even help you get ready to go. We’re here to be an advocate for you, and to walk you through the entire process from start to finish.

Should you have any questions along the way, just send us an email or book a chat. That’s why we’re here!

Are there any scholarships for international students?

Scholarship options in Australia are usually limited for international students as they tend to be reserved for those undertaking postgraduate research degrees; however, we can advise you where to look and whether specific programs have a history of offering scholarships.

Occasionally, scholarships are granted to high achievers—those with very high marks. In previous years, we have seen $5000- to $10,000-scholarships given to OzTREKK students.

Check out OzTREKK’s Financing page to learn more about scholarships and paying for your degree.

Do you have course outlines on file? 

Before sending us outlines, check in with your admissions team to see if we’ve already got them. We can save you a lot of time and ensure we’re submitting good outlines on your behalf. Outlines must be within 2 years of the time you took the course (as listed on your transcript).

I received a low mark on my prerequisite course. Will this impact my application? 

To meet the prerequisite subjects, you need to have been granted the credit (passed); the grade itself isn’t considered in the prerequisite assessment. If there are any exceptions, we’ll let you know.

What does “rolling admissions” mean?

Rolling admissions means the university assesses applications as they are received, AKA “first come, first served” or “first come, first offered.” As soon as they’ve met the quota and the program is filled, they usually start a waitlist and close the applications. So, for a program that has rolling admissions, the earlier you apply the better!

How does OzTREKK know if my application will be competitive?

Most Canadians applying to full-degree programs in Australia (i.e., not study abroad courses, which usually only last a semester or two) apply through OzTREKK. They’re studying medicine, dentistry, law, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, etc.

Since they’re using OzTREKK’s services, this gives us a good idea of the starting point of a competitive application each year, allowing us to help you determine which universities/programs are most likely to present you with a letter of offer!

You can get started on determining your chances by reviewing the admissions requirements on each program page. Then, visit our GPA Conversions and Eligibility pages for details and suggestions to help you get into the program of your dreams. Of course, we’re always here to help if you have questions.

What is a 5.0 GPA in Australia?

Unlike in Canada, GPAs in Australia are simple. They’re standardized, so they mean the same thing to everyone.

In Australia, a 5.0/7.0 would roughly translate to a 2.7/4.0 or approximately 70%–72%, but keep in mind all universities assess slightly differently. We leave the official calculations to the universities.

Learn more on our GPA Conversions page where we list the most common Canadian GPA scales to their corresponding Australian GPA grade. If you’re not sure where you land, just reach out!

Which prerequisites do I need?

Prerequisite courses vary by university and by program. We’ve listed university- and program-specific requirements on each program’s page under “Admissions Requirements.”

How do universities calculate GPA?

Calculations differ by university, but most use cumulative (all units within a program) or weighted GPA (typically last 2 or 3 years of study). See GPA Conversions for more information.