Optometry School: The OAT, OptomCAS, and Becoming an OD

Prerequisite coursework

Optometry schools require a defined set of science and math courses before you apply. The common core includes general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics, each usually with a lab. Many programs also require biochemistry, microbiology, statistics, and English composition. Confirm the exact list with each school, since requirements shift between programs.

The Optometry Admission Test

The OAT is a computer-based test administered through Prometric testing centers. It covers Survey of the Natural Sciences, Physics, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning, and reports scaled scores for each section plus an Academic Average.

The OAT costs $520 to register (fee is set annually by ADA's Department of Testing Services, so confirm the current rate on oat.ada.org before applying). If you decide to send your scores to a school you did not select when you registered, a separate score distribution fee of $55 per report applies. Most applicants take the OAT after finishing organic chemistry and physics, since both show up heavily on the Natural Sciences and Physics sections.

Applying through OptomCAS

OptomCAS is the centralized application nearly every U.S. school and college of optometry uses. You submit transcripts, OAT scores, a personal essay, and letters of recommendation once, and OptomCAS verifies and forwards your file to every school you select.

The OptomCAS fee schedule charges $190 for your first school and $85 for each additional school. Many schools also charge their own supplemental fee once you pass an initial screen.

Building a competitive application

• Shadow an optometrist and log the hours. Clinical exposure to patient care confirms your interest and gives you material for your personal essay.

• Keep your science GPA strong. Admission committees weigh it separately from your overall GPA.

• Confirm your target schools hold accreditation through the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education, since only graduates of accredited OD programs can sit for state licensing boards.

• Apply as soon as OptomCAS opens. Most schools use rolling admissions, so early applicants have an advantage.

If you want to retake the OAT

You can retest, though most testing policies build in a waiting period between attempts, and repeated attempts without improvement can raise questions from admissions committees. Focus a retake on your weakest section rather than resitting the full exam without a clear plan for what changes.

Interviews and secondary applications

Schools that advance your OptomCAS file typically request a supplemental application with school-specific questions, then invite competitive applicants to interview. Formats range from a traditional one-on-one conversation to a multiple mini interview with several short stations covering ethics and communication. Check each school's admissions page for its specific format.

Licensure after the OD

Finishing an accredited Doctor of Optometry program does not make you licensed on its own. You still need to pass the National Board of Examiners in Optometry exams and meet your state board's additional requirements before you can practice.

How schools weigh your GPA

Admission committees look at your overall GPA and a separate science GPA built from your biology, chemistry, and physics coursework. A strong science GPA paired with a solid OAT score gives committees confidence you handle the science-heavy first two years of an OD program.

Choosing where to apply

Apply across a mix of reach, target, and likely schools based on your GPA and OAT score compared to each program's published averages. Public optometry schools generally cost less for in-state residents than private programs, though tuition gaps vary by state and school, so check each program's published cost of attendance before you commit to an application list.

When to start your prerequisites

Most applicants complete their prerequisite coursework over two to four years, either inside a bachelor's degree in another field or through a dedicated pre-optometry track. Confirm each target school's specific list and lab requirements early, since missing a single prerequisite can delay your application by a full cycle.

OD versus ophthalmologist

An OD, or Doctor of Optometry, provides primary eye care, vision testing, contact lens fittings, and treatment for many common eye conditions. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who completes medical school and a residency, and handles eye surgery along with more complex medical and surgical eye conditions. The two paths use different admissions systems entirely, since ophthalmology runs through medical school and AMCAS rather than OptomCAS.

Common mistakes to avoid

Applicants often wait too long to line up shadowing hours, apply late in a rolling cycle after most interview slots are gone, or send a personal essay that reads as generic rather than specific to optometry. Start early, apply as soon as OptomCAS opens, and use your essay to explain why you want this specific path over related health fields.

Compare the total time investment against related paths before you commit. Optometry runs four years after prerequisites, shorter than the additional residency years many other doctoral-level health professions require, which appeals to students who want to reach independent practice sooner. Treat your first OptomCAS cycle as your real attempt rather than a test run, since a second cycle costs another full year and another round of fees.