Optometrists are Doctors of Optometry who provide primary eye and vision care. They examine the eyes and visual system, diagnose and manage eye disease, prescribe corrective lenses, prescribe medications within their state scope of practice, and help identify ocular signs of systemic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

Optometrists may work in private or group practices, health systems, community clinics, academic settings, government facilities, retail or multidisciplinary practices, and other healthcare environments. Scope of practice is regulated by each state and can differ across jurisdictions.

Optometry may appeal to students who:

• Are interested in vision, eye health, optics, and systemic disease.
• Enjoy diagnostic testing and interpreting clinical findings.
• Want sustained patient contact in a specialty area of healthcare.
• Are interested in combining clinical care with technology and medical devices.
• Like the possibility of working with patients across the lifespan.

Professional education

Professional optometric education leads to the Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree and generally requires four years of study. Students should review the accreditation status of programs through the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), the recognized accrediting body for professional OD programs in the United States and Canada.

After earning the OD, graduates complete the examinations and state requirements needed for licensure. Some optometrists also pursue postgraduate residency training for additional experience in an area of practice.

Optometrists and ophthalmologists work in the same area of healthcare but complete different professional training. Ophthalmologists are physicians who earn an MD or DO and complete medical residency training in ophthalmology.

Explore Optometry

• Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry: Future Students
• ACOE: Optometric Program Directories
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Optometrists

Students may pursue a variety of undergraduate majors before optometry school. Program-specific prerequisites matter more than the name of the major, so students should select an academic program they enjoy while planning the science and supporting coursework needed for the schools they are considering.

Common prerequisite areas include:

• Biology with laboratory
• General Chemistry with laboratory
• Organic Chemistry with laboratory
• Physics with laboratory
• Microbiology
• Mathematics and/or Calculus
• Statistics
• English or writing coursework
• Psychology, Biochemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, or additional science coursework at some schools

Requirements vary by institution. ASCO publishes school-specific prerequisite information, and individual admissions websites should be used when building a final course plan.

Optometry observation

Optometry schools vary in how they evaluate shadowing and exposure to the profession. Some require a specific number of observation hours, while others expect applicants to demonstrate familiarity with optometric practice without establishing a universal minimum.

When possible, observe optometrists in more than one type of setting. Exposure to routine vision care, ocular disease management, pediatric or geriatric patients, specialty contact lenses, low-vision care, or other areas can help you understand the range of the profession.

Other experiences

Healthcare employment, research, community service, leadership, campus involvement, and other activities may all contribute to an applicant’s preparation. Choose experiences that give you meaningful responsibilities and allow you to develop over time.

Program Research

• ASCO: Applicant Profiles & School-Specific Prerequisites
• ACOE Program Directories

Optometry Admission Test (OAT)

The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) is the primary standardized admissions examination for optometry programs. It is governed by ASCO and administered through the American Dental Association’s Department of Testing Services.

The OAT includes:

• Survey of the Natural Sciences: Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry
• Reading Comprehension
• Physics
• Quantitative Reasoning

Applicants should complete enough prerequisite coursework to be prepared for the tested subjects before choosing an exam date. Individual schools determine how they use OAT results. Some programs may also accept another standardized examination in place of the OAT, so review each school’s current policy before registering.

OptomCAS

U.S. schools and colleges of optometry participate in the Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS). Applicants submit one centralized application and designate the programs that should receive it.

OptomCAS collects academic history, transcripts, experiences, recommendations, written materials, and other application information. Schools may also require supplemental materials or additional fees.

Choosing optometry schools

Review accreditation status, prerequisites, cost, clinical training, curriculum, location, program outcomes, admissions testing policies, and opportunities in areas of optometry that interest you. Schools also establish their own application deadlines and may review applicants on a rolling basis.

Letters of recommendation

Recommendation requirements vary by school. Programs may request letters from science faculty, an optometrist, a pre-health advisor, a supervisor, or other evaluators who know the applicant’s preparation well.

Eligible Villanova applicants may participate in the HPA letter packet process. Review the current cycle requirements and compare them with the evaluator policies of each optometry program on your list.

Interviews

Optometry programs commonly interview applicants before admission. Prepare to discuss your understanding of optometry, exposure to the profession, academic preparation, experiences, and reasons for applying to the individual school.

Official Optometry Application Resources

• OptomCAS
• Official Optometry Admission Test
• Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
• ACOE Program Directories

Podiatric physicians are Doctors of Podiatric Medicine who diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and related structures of the lower extremity. Their work includes medical management, biomechanics, wound care, injury treatment, and surgery within the scope permitted by their state.

Podiatrists care for patients with sports injuries, fractures, deformities, diabetic foot complications, vascular and neurological conditions, skin and nail disorders, and other concerns that affect mobility and lower-extremity health.

They practice in private and group practices, hospitals, health systems, multispecialty clinics, academic medical centers, veterans’ healthcare facilities, and other clinical settings.

Podiatric medicine may appeal to students who:

• Want a physician role focused on a defined area of the body.
• Are interested in anatomy, biomechanics, medicine, and surgery.
• Enjoy combining diagnostic care with procedures and longitudinal patient management.
• Are interested in how chronic conditions such as diabetes affect mobility and wound healing.
• Want the opportunity to pursue surgical training as part of residency.

Professional education and residency

Podiatric medical education leads to the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree and requires four years of professional study. Colleges of podiatric medicine are accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME).

After graduation, DPM graduates enter three-year podiatric medicine and surgery residency programs. Residency provides postgraduate training in patient management, podiatric medicine, and surgical care.

Explore Podiatric Medicine

• AACPM: Becoming a Podiatric Physician
• CPME: Podiatric Medical Colleges
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Podiatrists

Students from different undergraduate majors can prepare for podiatric medical school as long as they complete the required science coursework. AACPM reports that most entering students have completed a bachelor’s degree, although individual schools establish their own minimum academic requirements.

Core prerequisite areas commonly include:

• Biology with laboratory
• General Chemistry with laboratory
• Organic Chemistry with laboratory
• Physics with laboratory
• English or writing coursework

Individual schools may recommend or expect additional coursework such as Biochemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Genetics, Psychology, or other advanced sciences. Review the requirements of each podiatric medical school before finalizing your course plan.

Shadowing and exposure to podiatric medicine

Applicants should develop a clear understanding of podiatric medicine before applying. Shadowing a DPM is particularly useful because it allows you to observe the profession’s medical and surgical scope and gives you experience to draw from when explaining your interest in podiatry.

Some schools specifically request or require a recommendation from a podiatric physician. Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, for example, includes a DPM letter within its current recommendation options.

Other preparation

Clinical experience, community service, research, employment, leadership, and other sustained activities can contribute to an applicant’s development. Medical exposure outside podiatry can also provide useful context for understanding healthcare teams and patient care.

Program Research

• AACPM Admissions Information
• CPME List of Podiatric Medical Colleges

MCAT and DAT

The MCAT remains the primary admissions examination for podiatric medical schools. Current AACPM admissions information shows that all podiatric schools in its admissions system accept the MCAT, while many also accept the DAT. Applicants should confirm the accepted exam and score-age policy for every school on their list.

Students planning to take the MCAT should complete the foundational coursework represented on the exam and allow sufficient time for preparation before selecting a test date.

AACPMAS

Applicants use the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service (AACPMAS) to apply to podiatric medical schools. The centralized service receives the applicant’s academic information and transcripts, calculates application GPAs, and distributes the completed application to designated schools.

Choosing podiatric medical schools

Review each school’s CPME accreditation status, prerequisite requirements, curriculum, clinical training, cost, location, admissions statistics, residency placement, and other program outcomes. CPME publishes accreditation information and programmatic outcomes that can be useful when comparing schools.

Letters of recommendation

Recommendation requirements are school-specific. Science faculty letters and recommendations from podiatric physicians are common, and some schools accept a pre-health committee or institutional packet in place of individual academic letters.

Eligible Villanova applicants can participate in the HPA letter packet process. Review HPA’s current deadlines and compare the packet with the recommendation requirements of each podiatric medical school before choosing your evaluators.

Interviews

Schools interview selected applicants as part of the admissions process. Be prepared to explain why you are pursuing podiatric medicine, discuss what you learned from shadowing and healthcare experiences, and connect your academic and experiential preparation with the profession.

Official Podiatric Medicine Resources

• AACPM Admissions & AACPMAS
• CPME Podiatric Medical College Directory
• CPME Programmatic Outcomes
• AAMC: Medical College Admission Test