OPTOMETRY CAREERS/OPTOMETRY

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1 OPTOMETRY Doctors of Optometry are independent primary health care providers who specialize in the examination, diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures as well as the diagnosis of related systemic conditions. Optometrists are primary-care providers and therefore must recognize ocular and visual signs of disease, understand the wide range of health problems affecting a patient and refer patients to appropriate specialists. Some optometrist work in a general practice, while others work in specialties such as contact lenses, geriatrics, low vision services (for visually impaired patients), occupational vision (to proteet and preserve workers vision and minimize eye strain), pediatrics, sports vision and vision therapy. Other optometrists may choose to enter optometric education and/or perform scientific research. Doctors of Optometry must successfully complete a four-year accredited degree program at one of the 17 schools or colleges of optometry in the United States. Most students accepted by a school or college of optometry have completed their undergraduate degree. The requirements for admission vary, but students wishing to study optometry should take at least a year of biology or zoology, chemistry, general physics and college mathematics. The science courses should be pre-professional level courses designed for science mi\iors and should include laboratory experience. Each school has its own additional educational requirements. All optometry schools and colleges also require applicants to take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT), a standardized examination designed to measure general academic ability and comprehension of scientific information. The OAT includes Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Physics, Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry. The OAT exam is computerized and examinees are allowed to take the exam an unlimited number of times but must wait at least 90 days between testing dates. However, only scores from the four most recent attempts and the total number of attempts will be reported. Online registration can be found on the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) website: WII lv.opled.org. For additional information on the OAT exam contact the Optometry Admission Testing Program, 211 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 600, Chicago, IL , Potential optometry students may be evaluated on the basis of GPA, performance on the OAT, extra-curricular and community service activities, personal interview, professional potential, etc. Early application is desirable and deadlines range from October to April for the various schools and colleges of optometry. Each institution has its own guidelines; therefore, students should contact the schools or colleges of their choice to obtain a catalog and specific application procedures. Contact information can be obtained at the ASCO website above. Optometrists must be state licensed. All states require graduation from an accredited professional optometric degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. Most states accept the results of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry CAREERS/OPTOMETRY

2 Financial aid, primarily in the form of government-subsidized low-interest loans, is available to students attending schools and colleges of optometry. Other loans, grants, and work-study aid are available, and vary from one institution to another. For details, students should contact the financial aid officer at the school (s) or college (s) of their choice. Doctors of Optometry recognize that continued professional education is a life-long responsibility to remain competent for the full scope of optometric services. All fifty states and the District of Columbia require Doctors of Optometry to take continuing education courses for license renewal. Such educational programs are readily available throughout the country. Accredited Schools and Colleges of Optometry Illinois 241 South Michigan Ave Chicago, IL Indiana University School of Optometry Office of Student Administration 800 E. Atwater Ave Bloomington, IN ialla.edu Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry 1 18 Eleanor Roosevelt Hato Rey, Puerto Rico WI'\\".oplonct. inlcr.cd 1I Michigan at Ferris State University 110 Cramer Circle Big Rapids, MI "w\\.l'crris.cdll/mco New England 424 Beacon St Boston, MA ww\'..ncco.cdu CAREERS/OPTOMETRY 2

3 Northeastern State University 1001 N Grand Ave Tahlequah, OK ttp:1/a ra pa 110.nSIlO".cdul - (' rtnmctrv Nova Southeastern University 200 S University Dr Ft. Lauderdale, FL 28 \\W\\'.nova.coull The Ohio State University Office of Student Affairs 8 W Tenth Ave Columbus, OH 4210 I1tlp:lloptomctrv.oslI.cd II Pacific University 204 College Way Forest Grove, OR W\\,\V.ont.naci ficu.cdu Pennsylvania 860 Old York Rd Elkins Park, PA w\\'\v.pco.cdll Southern California 2575 Yorba Linda Blvd Fullerton, CA 9281 W\V\v.scco.edu Southern 1245 Madison Ave Memphis, TN 8104 \vw\v.sen.culi State University of New York State West 42,d St New York, NY w\\'w.sunvopt.l:du CAREERS/OPTOMETRY

4 University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry 1716 University Blvd Birmingham, AL WI' w.uab.cdu/optomctrv University of California at Berkeley School of Optometry 97 Minor Hall Berkeley, CA "IOIll etr\'.oerke Ie\'.cd u University of Missouri at St. Louis One University Blvd St. Louis, MO \ VWW. Ums I.cdu/ d iv isions/o ntomctrv University of Houston 505 J. Davis Armistead Bldg Houston, Texas \\.'ww.oqi.uh.ct!u University of Houston The University of Houston is the only optometry school in the state of Texas. Housed in one of the most modern optometric facilities in the world, the $10 million complex, including classrooms, teaching clinics, and research laboratories, serves as the primary vision educational and research center in a seven-state area. State-of-theart equipment provides students and faculty with the best possible methods for clinical work and laboratory instruction. Students and faculty are engaged in a variety of research projects that have a direct impact on the vision needs of the community. During their four years at the college, optometry students complete about 2,000 hours of clinical training. The college seeks students who are academically and personally qualified to complete a rigorous academic program and acquire the broad scope of clinical skills and knowledge needed for the practice of optometry. Applications are accepted from across the country and around the world. Within the United States, over twenty states are represented with the largest number of applicants from Texas and California. Each entering class is comprised of approximately 100 students. Undergraduate preparation for the study of optometry requires a strong foundation III 02108CAREERS/OPTOMETRY

5 science and mathematics and a background in the humanities and social sciences. Prior to admission in the college of optometry students must have a baccalaureates degree and must have satisfactorily completed 55 hours of specific prerequisite courses (listed below) with a grade of "C" or better. Students may apply for admission while completing their pre-optometry course work. Students taking pre-optometry courses at a college or university other than the University of Houston should enroll in courses equivalent to those offered at UH. A listing of such courses equivalent may be obtained by calling or writing the Office of Student Affairs and Admission at the college. For further information about optometry and/or the University of Houston College of Optometry, look at our website \\W\\.opt.uh.cdll or contact. Mr. Roger B. Boykins, Recruiter & Advisor Office of Student Affairs and Admissions University of Houston Houston, TX (71) or FAX (71) Rbo\'kinsriillh.cctu Prerequisite Courses University of Houston BIOLOGY Biological Sciences with laboratory Microbiology with laboratory Advanced Physiology with laboratory Human Anatomy with laboratory CHEMISTRY Fundamentals of Chemistry with laboratory Organic Chemistry with laboratory Biochemistry MATHEMATICS Elementary Functions Calculus I PHYSICS General Physics with laboratory PSYCHOLOGY Introduction to Psychology STATISTICS Statistical with application in biological & social sciences Revised 02/08 by: Roger Boykins University of Houston Minimum Semester Hours CAREERS/OPTOMETRY 5

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