Information for Optometry applicants

All applicants must complete or have completed the OAT.

For September 2025 admission, the OAT must be written between August 31, 2022 and September 30th, 2024. Scores do not have to be received by September 30th, but this is the last day to write the OAT for September 2025 admission. You can write the OAT multiple times during this period and the highest valid score will be used. Note: there is a 60-day waiting period before you can re-write the OAT.

Applicants are responsible for directing the ASCO to distribute their OAT results to the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry and Vision Science by the posted deadlines. Only scores received electronically from the ASCO will be accepted.

All applicants to the Doctor of Optometry program at the University of Waterloo are required to complete the CASPer online assessment. Successful completion of CASPer is mandatory in order to maintain admission eligibility.

To take CASPer, you will need a computer with audio capabilities, a webcam, and a reliable internet connection on your selected test date. No exceptions will be made if you're unable to take CASPer online due to technical issues. Please direct any inquiries regarding the test to support@acuityinsights.com.

How to register

Visit the Acuity Insights website and register to take the CASPer test as soon as possible after applying to the Doctor of Optometry program.

Include your 8-digit Waterloo ID number on your CASPer profile so your CASPer test scores will automatically be shared with Waterloo and used as part of the selection process.

• Important: Without this step, your CASPer scores will not be distributed to Waterloo and your application will be disqualified for missing a requirement.

CASPer test dates

The CASPer must be completed on one of the approved testing dates below for September 2025 admission. These are the only acceptable test dates for the Waterloo Doctor of Optometry program for September 2025 admission. No exceptions will be made.

• October 3, 2024 - 8:00 PM (ET - Eastern Time)
• October 6, 2024 - 4:00 PM (ET - Eastern Time)
• October 10, 2024 - 8:00 PM (ET - Eastern Time)
• October 16, 2024 - 6:00 PM (ET - Eastern Time)
• October 16, 2024 - 8:00 PM (ET - Eastern Time)
• November 7, 2024 - 8:00 PM (ET - Eastern Time)

When signing up for a test date, use the following test identifier: CSP-10211 Canada CASPer 2.

You can only take the CASPer test once during the application cycle. CASPer test results are valid for one year. If you've taken the test in previous years, you'll therefore be expected to re-take it.

Quest is the portal through which you will view your application status, submit your AIF, upload supporting documents, check the receipt of your transcripts and references, and change your personal contact information.

If you are a first-time applicant to Waterloo, you will need to activate your WatIAM user ID and password which will allow you to use Quest. See instructions for how to create your Quest account.

Ensure your email address is up-to-date on Quest as all communications will be sent to you by email.

It's important to confirm your referees' availability to submit their reference by December 12th, 2024.

Each of your references will each receive an email with further submission instructions within 3 business days after you submit your Admission Information Form (AIF). It is your responsibility to follow up with your references to ensure they have received the reference correspondence from us.

Approximately three weeks after we receive your application, you'll receive an email from us outlining the next steps. Complete the Admission Information Form (AIF) and submit it by the November 28th, 2024 deadline. You're encouraged to submit your AIF as soon as possible.

To access and submit your AIF, visit the Admission Information Form (AIF) page for details.

Tips for completing your AIF

Completing the academic record charts

• All prerequisite courses must be accounted for in Question 1, including courses you are currently enrolled in, or are planning to take in a future term. Please indicate the study year that the prerequisite course was taken (e.g. Introductory Biology 1 - Queen's University - BIOL 123 - Year 1). If you are currently enrolled in the course or will be enrolled in a future term, please select Year 8 as the study year. If a prerequisite is not accounted for, it will be assumed to be missing.

• Some institutions include the lab as part of the overall course, and do not separate the lab grade from the course grade. If you do not have a separate lab grade for Biology 1, Biology 2, Chemistry 1, Physics 1, and/or Physics 2, please indicate N/A for the lab grade.

• Question 2, Academic Record of Courses, is no longer required. You will not be penalized for not completing it, even though it is denoted with a required field. Please input "N/A", "N/A" and select "year 1" and proceed to the next question.

References

You must indicate two references:

• Optometrist – Your supervising optometrist. We expect a minimum of 8 hours of job shadowing with an optometrist.
• Character reference – We accept character references from employers, supervisors, professors, coaches, or ministers.

When filling out the information for each reference, you do not need to use the Occupation dropdown menu items; rather, use the Reference Type dropdown to specify which reference is which. Relatives are not accepted as referees for either reference type.

Once your AIF is complete and you press the Submit – Page Finished button on the Optometry page, your referees will receive an email from Waterloo within 3 business days. They must submit the reference by December 12th, 2024. Letters on stationery and hard copy forms are NOT acceptable.

Your referees will receive a confirmation email after they have submitted the form (normally within 3 business days).

The Documents section of your Quest account will be updated to show that we've received the reference within 3 business days.

Experiences and accomplishments

Fill in the applicable sections with relevant details including number of hours, employer or organization names, supporting documentation (e.g. awards, certificates) if applicable, etc.

• Job shadowing or optometry-related work/volunteer experience
• Other work experience
• Volunteer experience and extracurricular activities
• Special training
• Additional accomplishments

If the last four years of your education have NOT been taught COMPLETELY in English, you must provide a score from an acceptable proficiency by November 28th, 2024. View  Waterloo’s official English language policy, acceptable tests and required scores

NOTE: If you were educated in English in a country outside of Canada, you may be asked to provide evidence of the language of instruction at that institution.

For admission consideration, unofficial transcripts must be submitted. Please visit the how to send required documents  web page for details.

Transcripts are required for any and all post-secondary institution you've attended. 

High school transcripts are not required  for admission (you can disregard the high school upload field in Quest). Exception: Students who received transfer credit at university for IB, AP or A-level courses. If you fall into this category, please upload unofficial examination results to the applicable high school on Quest. 

If you are currently attending a university:

• An interim transcript including your fall and winter course enrollment is due by November 28, 2024. 
• If invited to a virtual interview, you will then need to submit a transcript by January 31, 2025  when your final fall grades are available.
• If you requested your transcripts through the OUAC (by checking “End of fall term”), you need not send/upload duplicate copies. If you selected “End of winter term”, you will need to upload an unofficial copy to Quest (see ‘Upload an unofficial transcript’ below).
• All prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of May 2025. If you have not completed all the prerequisites by the end of May deadline you will not be admitted. There are no exceptions.
• If admitted to the program, an official final transcript with all final grades and courses (including winter term, if applicable) is required.

If you have completed your university studies and all coursework at the time of your application:

• You may request official final transcript(s) be sent to us. In this case, only one official transcript (per institution attended) is required throughout the admissions consideration process.

Current and former Waterloo students  are not required to forward official transcripts because we will access a copy of your Waterloo record (including any applicable transfer credit information).

How to request and submit transcripts

Please  do not send transcripts and other documents to the School of Optometry & Vision Science. You can request your transcripts through the following methods:

• Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) 
• MyCredsTM (if your school uses it): Waterloo is a registered organization with MyCredsTM. When sending transcripts through the MyCredsTM portal, please select "send my documents to a registered organization." Do not select "generate a link to my documents".
• Upload an unofficial transcript: You may upload only ONE unofficial transcript per institution per day in the Documents section of your Quest account. See how to upload application documents. 
• Mail:  official or unofficial documents can be mailed to the Registrar’s Office. The mailing address of the Registrar’s Office is
  
  Office of the Registrar 
  University of Waterloo 
  200 University Ave West 
  Waterloo ON   N2L 3G1 CANADA 

It's your responsibility to ensure all of your documents have been received. We'll be unable to consider your application if we do not receive your documents by the specified deadlines.

You can check if we've received your transcripts, references, AIF, and English language test scores (if required) by referring to the Documents section of your Quest account.

CASPer

CASPer test reports will be automatically sent to Waterloo but will not appear in your Quest account. You may view the transmission status of your CASPer results through your Acuity Insights account.

OAT

You must request the ASCO to send your OAT results to Waterloo. OAT submission status will also not appear in your Quest account. You can check the status of your results by contacting OAT support directly.

Email address

Please ensure we have your current email address in Quest. The majority of our communications to you will be via email. This should be an email you check often. You'll be responsible for all communications sent to the email address you have listed in Quest. Please include your full name and Waterloo ID number in all communications with us.

After your supporting documents are received, the Admissions Committee will conduct an initial review of your file. After the initial review, the Admissions Committee may invite you to a virtual interview, in which case you will be contacted via email in mid-December. The interviews will take place mid-late January.

If you are invited for an interview, please ensure that a transcript with your final grades is forwarded to the Registrar's Office or uploaded to your Quest account by the January 31st, 2024 deadline.

If you do not receive an interview invitation, you are no longer being considered for admission and will be notified of this. No exceptions will be made.

Final admission decisions and conditions