Requirements/Recommendations for Admission to Optometry School

Specifics vary widely from school to school. Generally speaking, the following courses are required:

• Calculus
• Statistics
• Anatomy
• Microbiology
• Organic Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Physiology
• Psychology

• Completion of a baccalaureate degree is strongly recommended in most cases.
• In addition to these courses, applicants are expected to take the OAT (Optometry Admission Test) which is now given on-line. The OAT consists of four tests: Survey of the Natural Sciences (Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry), Reading Comprehension, Physics and Quantitative Reasoning. See web link for further information.
• Evidence of exposure to the optometry setting is also important. It is recommended that students wishing to become an optometrist, volunteer/work in an optometry environment and shadow optometrists.