Pre-Optometry Requirements

Pre-Optometry Program

Minimal Requirements for Entrance

1 year of biology with labs (8 semester hours)
1 course in Microbiology
1 course in Biochemistry
1 year of General Chemistry with labs (8 semester hours)
1 course in Organic Chemistry with labs (4 semester hours)
1 year of General Physics with labs (8 semester hours)
1 course in Calculus
1 course in Statistics (Statistics course taken in a psychology department will not be counted for fulfillment of the psychology prerequisite and the statistics prerequisite)
1 course of General Psychology
1 year of Social Science (6 semester hours) (Any combination of two semesters in sociology, economics, anthropology, history, political science, or additional psychology courses. )

Optometry Schools in Alabama

University of Alabama at Birmingham
School of Optometry/The Medical Center
(205) 934-6150

Degrees offered : Doctor of Optometry (O.D.), OD/MBA program, OD/ MPH program, OD/ MS program

Optometry Schools and Colleges throughout the US

Education Required

Minimum requirement is 3 years of college; majority of applicants have a 4 year college degree. Candidates with a bachelor's degree are given preferential consideration.

Degree / Major

Any major is acceptable as long as you meet the minimal entrance requirements (minimum of 90 semester hours). Preferred majors include Biology, Psychology, or Physical Sciences. No more than 60 semester hours earned at a two-year institution may be applied toward the credit hour requirement.

Suggested Courses -Students may want to take upper level courses to help prepare for Optometry School

Human Anatomy & Physiology
Histology
Clinical Pathophysiology
Immunology
Optics

Admission Test

Optometry Admissions Test (OAT)
Optometry Admission Testing Program
211 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 1840
Chicago, IL 60611-2678
(312) 440-2500

Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO)
143 Rollins Ave #2046
Rockville, MD 20847

301-231-5944

Application Services

UAB School of Optometry is part of OptomCAS ( centralized application service for all schools and colleges of optometry in US and Puerto Rico. Submit transcripts, essays, and letters of recommendation/committee letter evaluation through OptomCAS.

OptomCAS

P.O. Box 9119, Watertown, MA 02471

(617)-612-2889
optomcasinfo@optomcas.org

Student Affairs Office
The School of Optometry/The Medical Center
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
UAB Station
Birmingham, AL 35294
(205) 934-6150

Resource Materials

Strategy for Success
National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions
P.O. Box 5017-A
Champaign, IL 61825-5017
(217) 333-0090
(217) 333-0122

Optometry: A Career with Vision
American Optometric Association
243 N. Lindbergh Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63141

Optometry Today - The Vision Care Profession
OAO Order Department
243 N. Lindbergh Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63141