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Become an optometrist

vnirniveBecome an optometristYou can download this infographic as a jpeg and print it out.

 

Undergraduate pathway

Check with the university or universities you are applying to about the entry requirements for high school graduates. This may involve:

  • HSR – your high school rank (ATAR or Selection Rank) may need to be an ATAR of 95 or better
  • Interview – some universities use an interview in their selection process
  • UMAT / UCAT – Since March 2019 a score in the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) (which replaced UMAT in 2019) was not a requirement for optometry at any Australian university, but this can change from year to year

There are some variations on obtaining a qualification as an optometrist directly from high school. Some universities offer a 5 year undergraduate degree, while some offer a 5 year program that is made up of a 3 year undergraduate degree plus a 2 year post graduate course. The fee structures for the programs containing a post graduate component may be different, so make sure you know the costs involved before you start a course.

Please check with the institution you are applying to in case they have alternative entry pathways.

Click here for the ATAR for every optometry course in Australia in 2022.

 

Graduate entry

Check with the university or universities you are applying to about the entry requirements for university graduates. This may involve:

  • GAMSAT – you may need to register for and sit the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test and achieve a high score (click here for Dr Gerry Considine’s tips for GAMSAT success)
  • GPA – your grade point average, that is, the average of your grades in your undergraduate university degree (the highest being 7) may be used as part of the entry criteria
  • Interview – some universities use an interview as part of their selection process

In Australia the optometry degree is generally 4 years when you are entering as a university graduate. Following on from an undergraduate degree that is at least 3 years, this pathway takes at least 7 years.

If you are considering a graduate entry optometry program please ensure that your undergraduate subjects meet the pre-requisite requirements of the university or universities you are looking at applying to.

Please check with the institution you are applying to in case they have alternative entry pathways.

Click here for a list of every optometry course in Australia in 2022.