OPTOMETRY

Doctors of Optometry are independent primary health care providers who specialize inthe examination diagnosis treatment and management of diseases and disorders of thevisual system the eye and associated structures as well as the diagnosis of relatedsystemic conditions Optometrists are primary-care providers and therefore mustrecognize ocular and visual signs of disease understand the wide range of healthproblems affecting a patient and refer patients to appropriate specialists Someoptometrist work in a general practice while others work in specialties such as contactlenses geriatrics low vision services (for visually impaired patients) occupational vision(to proteet and preserve workers vision and minimize eye strain) pediatrics sports visionand vision therapy Other optometrists may choose to enter optometric education andorperform scientific research

Doctors of Optometry must successfully complete a four-year accredited degree programat one of the 17 schools or colleges of optometry in the United States Most studentsaccepted by a school or college of optometry have completed their undergraduate degreeThe requirements for admission vary but students wishing to study optometry shouldtake at least a year of biology or zoology chemistry general physics and collegemathematics The science courses should be pre-professional level courses designed forscience miiors and should include laboratory experience Each school has its ownadditional educational requirements

All optometry schools and colleges also require applicants to take the OptometryAdmission Test (OAT) a standardized examination designed to measure generalacademic ability and comprehension of scientific information The OAT includesQuantitative Reasoning Reading Comprehension Physics Biology General Chemistryand Organic Chemistry The OAT exam is computerized and examinees are allowed totake the exam an unlimited number of times but must wait at least 90 days betweentesting dates However only scores from the four most recent attempts and the totalnumber of attempts will be reported Online registration can be found on the Associationof Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) website WII lVopledorg For additionalinformation on the OAT exam contact the Optometry Admission Testing Program 211East Chicago Avenue Suite 600 Chicago IL 60611-2678 800-232-2159

Potential optometry students may be evaluated on the basis of GPA performance on theOAT extra-curricular and community service activities personal interview professionalpotential etc Early application is desirable and deadlines range from October to April forthe various schools and colleges of optometry Each institution has its own guidelinestherefore students should contact the schools or colleges of their choice to obtain acatalog and specific application procedures Contact information can be obtained at theASCO website above Optometrists must be state licensed All states require graduationfrom an accredited professional optometric degree program as a prerequisite forlicensure Most states accept the results of the National Board of Examiners inOptometry

02108CAREERSOPTOMETRY

Financial aid primarily in the form of government-subsidized low-interest loans isavailable to students attending schools and colleges of optometry Other loans grantsand work-study aid are available and vary from one institution to another For detailsstudents should contact the financial aid officer at the school (s) or college (s) of theirchoice

Doctors of Optometry recognize that continued professional education is a life-longresponsibility to remain competent for the full scope of optometric services All fiftystates and the District of Columbia require Doctors of Optometry to take continuingeducation courses for license renewal Such educational programs are readily availablethroughout the country

Accredited Schools and Colleges of Optometry

Illinois College of OptometryOffice of Admissions3241 South Michigan AveChicago IL 60616wwwilocdu

Indiana University School of OptometryOffice of Student Administration800 E Atwater AveBloomington IN 47405-3680wwwonlilld iallaedu

Inter American University of Puerto RicoSchool of Optometry118 Eleanor RooseveltHato Rey Puerto Rico 00919WI oplonct inlcrcd 1I

Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University1310 Cramer CircleBig Rapids MI 49307-2738wlcrriscdllmco

New England College of OptometryOffice of Admissions424 Beacon StBoston MA 02115wW nccocdu

02108CAREERSOPTOMETRY 2

Financial aid primarily in the form of government-subsidized low-interest loans isavailable to students attending schools and colleges of optometry Other loans grantsand work-study aid are available and vary from one institution to another For detailsstudents should contact the financial aid officer at the school (s) or college (s) of theirchoice

Doctors of Optometry recognize that continued professional education is a life-longresponsibility to remain competent for the full scope of optometric services All fiftystates and the District of Columbia require Doctors of Optometry to take continuingeducation courses for license renewal Such educational programs are readily availablethroughout the country

Accredited Schools and Colleges of Optometry

Illinois College of OptometryOffice of Admissions3241 South Michigan AveChicago IL 60616wwwilocdu

Indiana University School of OptometryOffice of Student Administration800 E Atwater AveBloomington IN 47405-3680wwwonlilld iallaedu

Inter American University of Puerto RicoSchool of Optometry118 Eleanor RooseveltHato Rey Puerto Rico 00919WI oplonct inlcrcd 1I

Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University1310 Cramer CircleBig Rapids MI 49307-2738wlcrriscdllmco

New England College of OptometryOffice of Admissions424 Beacon StBoston MA 02115wW nccocdu

02108CAREERSOPTOMETRY 2

Northeastern State University College of Optometry1001 N Grand AveTahlequah OK 7446411ttp1a ra pa 110nSIlO cdul - ( rtnmctrv

Nova Southeastern UniversityCollege of OptometryOffice of Admissions3200 S University DrFt Lauderdale FL 33328W novacoull

The Ohio State University College of OptometryOffice of Student Affairs338 W Tenth AveColumbus OH 43210I1tlplloptomctrv oslIcd II

Pacific University College of OptometryOffice of Admissions2043 College WayForest Grove OR 97116WV ontnaci ficucdu

Pennsylvania College of OptometryOffice of Admissions8360 Old York RdElkins Park PA 19027-1598wvpCOCdll

Southern California College of OptometryOffice of Admissions2575 Yorba Linda BlvdFullerton CA 92831WVvsccoedu

Southern College of Optometry1245 Madison AveMemphis TN 38104vwVsenculi

State University of New YorkState College of Optometry33 West 42d StNew York NY 10036-8003wwsunvoptldu

01108CAREERSOPTOMETRY 3

University of Alabama at BirminghamSchool of Optometry1716 University BlvdBirmingham AL 35294-0010WI wuabcduoptomctrv

University of California at BerkeleySchool of OptometryOffice of Admissions397 Minor HallBerkeley CA 94720-2020http 0 IOIll etr oerke Ie cdu

University of Missouri at St LouisCollege of OptometryOne University BlvdSt Louis MO 63121-4499VWW UmsIcdu d iv isionso ntomctrv

University of HoustonCollege of Optometry505 J Davis Armistead BldgHouston Texas 77204-2020wwoQIuhctu

University of Houston College of Optometry

The University of Houston College of Optometry is the only optometry school in the stateof Texas Housed in one of the most modern optometric facilities in the world the $10million complex including classrooms teaching clinics and research laboratories servesas the primary vision educational and research center in a seven-state area State-of-the-art equipment provides students and faculty with the best possible methods for clinicalwork and laboratory instruction Students and faculty are engaged in a variety of researchprojects that have a direct impact on the vision needs of the community During their fouryears at the college optometry students complete about 2000 hours of clinical training

The college seeks students who are academically and personally qualified to complete arigorous academic program and acquire the broad scope of clinical skills and knowledgeneeded for the practice of optometry Applications are accepted from across the countryand around the world Within the United States over twenty states are represented withthe largest number of applicants from Texas and California Each entering class iscomprised of approximately 100 students

Undergraduate preparation for the study of optometry requires a strong foundation III

02108CAREERSOPTOMETRY

science and mathematics and a background in the humanities and social sciences Prior toadmission in the college of optometry students must have a baccalaureates degree andmust have satisfactorily completed 55 hours of specific prerequisite courses (listedbelow) with a grade of C or better Students may apply for admission while completingtheir pre-optometry course work

Students taking pre-optometry courses at a college or university other than the Universityof Houston should enroll in courses equivalent to those offered at UH A listing of suchcourses equivalent may be obtained by calling or writing the Office of Student Affairsand Admission at the college

For further information about optometry andor the University of Houston College ofOptometry look at our website Woptuhcdll or contact

Mr Roger B Boykins Recruiter amp AdvisorOffice of Student Affairs and AdmissionsUniversity of Houston College of OptometryHouston TX 77204-6052 (713) 743-2047 or1-800-282-8426FAX (713) 743-2046Email Rbokinsriillhcctu

Prerequisite CoursesUniversity of Houston College of Optometry

Minimum Semester HoursBIOLOGY

Biological Sciences with laboratoryMicrobiology with laboratoryAdvanced Physiology with laboratoryHuman Anatomy with laboratory

CHEMISTRYFundamentals of Chemistry with laboratoryOrganic Chemistry with laboratoryBiochemistry

MATHEMATICSElementary FunctionsCalculus I

PHYSICSGeneral Physics with laboratory

PSYCHOLOGYIntroduction to Psychology

STATISTICSStatistical with application in biological amp social sciences

Revised 0208 byRoger BoykinsUniversity of HoustonCollege of Optometry

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University of Alabama at BirminghamSchool of Optometry1716 University BlvdBirmingham AL 35294-0010WI wuabcduoptomctrv

University of California at BerkeleySchool of OptometryOffice of Admissions397 Minor HallBerkeley CA 94720-2020http 0 IOIll etr oerke Ie cdu

University of Missouri at St LouisCollege of OptometryOne University BlvdSt Louis MO 63121-4499VWW UmsIcdu d iv isionso ntomctrv

University of HoustonCollege of Optometry505 J Davis Armistead BldgHouston Texas 77204-2020wwoQIuhctu

University of Houston College of Optometry

The University of Houston College of Optometry is the only optometry school in the stateof Texas Housed in one of the most modern optometric facilities in the world the $10million complex including classrooms teaching clinics and research laboratories servesas the primary vision educational and research center in a seven-state area State-of-the-art equipment provides students and faculty with the best possible methods for clinicalwork and laboratory instruction Students and faculty are engaged in a variety of researchprojects that have a direct impact on the vision needs of the community During their fouryears at the college optometry students complete about 2000 hours of clinical training

The college seeks students who are academically and personally qualified to complete arigorous academic program and acquire the broad scope of clinical skills and knowledgeneeded for the practice of optometry Applications are accepted from across the countryand around the world Within the United States over twenty states are represented withthe largest number of applicants from Texas and California Each entering class iscomprised of approximately 100 students

Undergraduate preparation for the study of optometry requires a strong foundation III

02108CAREERSOPTOMETRY

science and mathematics and a background in the humanities and social sciences Prior toadmission in the college of optometry students must have a baccalaureates degree andmust have satisfactorily completed 55 hours of specific prerequisite courses (listedbelow) with a grade of C or better Students may apply for admission while completingtheir pre-optometry course work

Students taking pre-optometry courses at a college or university other than the Universityof Houston should enroll in courses equivalent to those offered at UH A listing of suchcourses equivalent may be obtained by calling or writing the Office of Student Affairsand Admission at the college

For further information about optometry andor the University of Houston College ofOptometry look at our website Woptuhcdll or contact

Mr Roger B Boykins Recruiter amp AdvisorOffice of Student Affairs and AdmissionsUniversity of Houston College of OptometryHouston TX 77204-6052 (713) 743-2047 or1-800-282-8426FAX (713) 743-2046Email Rbokinsriillhcctu

Prerequisite CoursesUniversity of Houston College of Optometry

Minimum Semester HoursBIOLOGY

Biological Sciences with laboratoryMicrobiology with laboratoryAdvanced Physiology with laboratoryHuman Anatomy with laboratory

CHEMISTRYFundamentals of Chemistry with laboratoryOrganic Chemistry with laboratoryBiochemistry

MATHEMATICSElementary FunctionsCalculus I

PHYSICSGeneral Physics with laboratory

PSYCHOLOGYIntroduction to Psychology

STATISTICSStatistical with application in biological amp social sciences

Revised 0208 byRoger BoykinsUniversity of HoustonCollege of Optometry

8444-8

843

33

8

3

3

02108CAREERSOPTOMETRY 5

• 00000001
• 00000002
• 00000003
• 00000004
• 00000005
• 00000006

science and mathematics and a background in the humanities and social sciences Prior toadmission in the college of optometry students must have a baccalaureates degree andmust have satisfactorily completed 55 hours of specific prerequisite courses (listedbelow) with a grade of C or better Students may apply for admission while completingtheir pre-optometry course work

Students taking pre-optometry courses at a college or university other than the Universityof Houston should enroll in courses equivalent to those offered at UH A listing of suchcourses equivalent may be obtained by calling or writing the Office of Student Affairsand Admission at the college

For further information about optometry andor the University of Houston College ofOptometry look at our website Woptuhcdll or contact

Mr Roger B Boykins Recruiter amp AdvisorOffice of Student Affairs and AdmissionsUniversity of Houston College of OptometryHouston TX 77204-6052 (713) 743-2047 or1-800-282-8426FAX (713) 743-2046Email Rbokinsriillhcctu

Prerequisite CoursesUniversity of Houston College of Optometry

Minimum Semester HoursBIOLOGY

Biological Sciences with laboratoryMicrobiology with laboratoryAdvanced Physiology with laboratoryHuman Anatomy with laboratory

CHEMISTRYFundamentals of Chemistry with laboratoryOrganic Chemistry with laboratoryBiochemistry

MATHEMATICSElementary FunctionsCalculus I

PHYSICSGeneral Physics with laboratory

PSYCHOLOGYIntroduction to Psychology

STATISTICSStatistical with application in biological amp social sciences

Revised 0208 byRoger BoykinsUniversity of HoustonCollege of Optometry

8444-8

843

33

8

3

3

02108CAREERSOPTOMETRY 5

• 00000001
• 00000002
• 00000003
• 00000004
• 00000005
• 00000006

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• 00000002
• 00000003
• 00000004
• 00000005
• 00000006