Submit the exemption request form below by July 24, 2026.
No exemption applications will be considered after this deadline.
Students admitted to the Doctor of Optometry program who have previously taken courses deemed equivalent to OPTOM courses may apply for course exemptions prior to beginning their studies.
All exemption requests must be submitted prior to the start of first year, regardless of what year/term a course is offered in the Doctor of Optometry program.
Consult the OPTOM course list for course codes, numbers, and descriptions.
It is strongly recommended that students take all Optometry courses offered even when there may be eligibility for exemption.
Conditions and eligibility:
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First-year students admitted to the Doctor of Optometry program and beginning their studies in September.
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Maximum 2 exemptions may be granted. If more are submitted, they must be ranked in order of preference.
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All requests submitted by the due date will be reviewed, but exemptions are not guaranteed.
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Exemptions may be denied if the similar School of Optometry and Vision Science course includes optometric content that was not included in courses offered elsewhere.
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In order to determine whether a course you've previously taken warrants an exemption from an OPTOM course, you must provide all the supporting documentation and details outlined in the form.
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Students who are granted more than one exemption are ineligible for optometry scholarships or awards during the academic year to which the exemptions apply.
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Decisions will be communicated by approximately mid-September.
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Status updates will not be provided until decisions are finalized - please do not email to follow up.
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