Doctor of Optometry (OD) - Frequently asked questions

Is the Doctor of Optometry (OD) program a graduate or doctoral program?

The OD program is a second-entry professional degree program, which prepares students for entry into the professional practice of Optometry. It is not a graduate degree, as a student is not required to complete an undergraduate degree prior to admission. For graduate programs, the University of Waterloo offers an MSc and a PhD in Vision Science.

How many years does it take to complete the Doctor of Optometry program?

The Optometry program (O.D.) is a four-year professional degree program. It includes lectures, labs, and practical experience in clinics. 

How many spaces are there in the Doctor of Optometry for first-year students? How many people will apply?

90 students are admitted into each first-year class of the program each year. There are approximately 300 applications each year.

How many years of university are needed to apply?

A minimum of three years of university-level study in a Bachelor of Science or similar science program are required to apply to the Doctor of Optometry program. The earliest you can apply is the fall term of your third year. Additionally, applicants must meet other academic requirements. 

How and when do I apply for admission to the Doctor of Optometry program at the University of Waterloo?

Applications normally open in early fall. Visit the application timeline page to learn more. 

I'm currently in a non-Science degree. Can I still apply to Optometry?

Typically a BSc will include the prerequisite courses, but the committee is looking for a well-rounded science studies background. You may apply provided that you successfully complete the prerequisites and meet all other application requirements. 

I attended an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT). Can I still apply to Optometry?

Applicants with exclusively a community college background in Ontario are not admissible to the Optometry program. If you are interested in applying in the future, you will need to consider completing the prerequisite courses at the university level first (along with all other application requirements).

Does it matter what university I attend? Do I have to go to University of Waterloo to be accepted into the Doctor of Optometry program? 

The Admissions Committee does not consider the university of origin (where you’re applying from) in their admission decision. Current University of Waterloo students do not receive preferential treatment over applicants from other universities. 

What is the advantage of attending the University of Waterloo for the undergraduate science program?

There are many advantages to attending the University of Waterloo for science programs. In addition to getting to know the campus and familiarizing yourself with the many resources available, you can enrol to complete all of the prerequisite courses for the Doctor of Optometry program while pursuing a Bachelor of Science. Many of the required courses are already included in the Biomedical Science Program.

Students who have completed a minimum of three years (15.0 lecture units) of any Science program at the University of Waterloo before successfully completing the Optometry degree may be eligible to transfer up to 6.0 optometry units to a Bachelor of Science (BSc), Honours Science degree. 

Students who already have a Three-Year General Science degree from the University of Waterloo are eligible to upgrade their degree to Honours Science.

I have completed more than three years of undergraduate studies, will I have an admissions advantage or be considered for advanced standing?

All applicants who meet the minimum admission requirements will be treated equally. There are very specific courses throughout the 4-year curriculum that are only available as part of the Optometry program at the University of Waterloo. Therefore, all applicants will be considered for year 1. 

If I start Optometry prerequisites at another university and then transfer to Waterloo, will I then have an advantage when I apply to the OD program?

Since Waterloo students are not given preferential treatment in the admissions process, transferring to Waterloo in second year will not provide you with a competitive advantage. In addition, the transfer credits cannot be assessed until after you are admitted to the University of Waterloo. This means you will not know if all of your courses are granted transfer credit, potentially resulting in costing additional time and lost coursework. Also, Credit/No Credit prerequisites are discouraged. 

I finished my degree some time ago, will this be a disadvantage?

It is preferable for applicants to have a current understanding of relevant course material. Courses taken more than 10 years ago may be subject to additional review.

Do you accept transfers from other schools of Optometry?

We do not accept transfers from other optometry programs.

I've gone to CEGEP, what is the process?

Two years at CEGEP are equivalent to one year of university. An additional two years of university studies are required to be eligible to apply to the Doctor of Optometry program. Some CEGEP courses can satisfy prerequisites if eligible for transfer credit. R scores are not used. 

Can you confirm if a course I took counts as a prerequisite?

Due to the high volume of inquiries, we cannot assess courses for eligibility prior to application.

If you are uncertain about whether a specific course counts as a prerequisite, first contact the undergraduate advisor at the university where the course is offered to confirm equivalency to uWaterloo courses.

My last university uses letter grades. Can I still apply?

Yes. Letter grades will be converted to numerical grades. 

If I don’t have at least a 90% average, will I be considered for admission?

Applicants require an overall undergraduate university average of at least 75.0% to be considered for admission. Grades from Graduate programs are not included in the overall average. Historically, applicants who have been admitted to the program have had averages of 79% to 92%. Achieving a very high academic average does not guarantee your admission, just as a lower academic average does not necessarily exclude you from being admitted.

Are repeated attempts of specific courses included in admission assessments?

If a course (prerequisite or other) is repeated, both grades are used in average calculations. The failed course is included in the course count for the term it was taken, and therefore that term is not considered a successfully completed full course load term. The second attempt is included in the course count for its respective term. Courses can only be repeated once.

Am I able to have a prerequisite course graded on a credit/no credit (CR/NCR) basis?

It is highly recommended that each prerequisite course be assigned a numerical grade.

• Letter grades will be converted to numerical grades. 
• CR/NCR grades are discouraged. 
  • If a CR/NCR grade is assigned in a prerequisite course, the grade will be interpreted as the lowest percentage grade awarded (CR = 50%, NCR = 32%).
  • CR grades in non-required courses will be removed from the cumulative average calculation.
• For the Winter 2020 term only, CR/NCR grades will be excluded from the cumulative average. 

Are courses taken online treated differently than courses taken on-campus?

No. Transcripts don't indicate if a course is taken on-campus or online. You can take online courses. 

Do you accept IB, AP, A-Level, CAPE or CEGEP courses?

The University of Waterloo recognizes IB, AP, A-Level, CAPE and CEGEP courses as excellent academic preparation for success at the university level and will accept specific courses towards meeting prerequisites. Applicants with these external results are required to provide official results when they apply. 

Do the full course load terms have to be consecutive?

No, as long as you have in total at least six terms with a full course load. 

Am I able to take spring/summer courses?

Taking spring/summer courses is permitted (including prerequisite courses), except for the spring/summer term immediately preceding the start of your studies in the Doctor of Optometry program. However, applicants still need to meet the full course load requirement (a minimum of six terms with five courses per term, not including labs). 

Is a failed course included in the course count for that term?

Failed or NCR courses in a term mean that a full course load was not successfully completed in that term, and therefore it cannot count towards the six full course load terms requirement.

Do I have to write the Optometry Admission Test (OAT)? When should I write the OAT exam? How do I study for the OAT exam?

Yes, the OAT is a requirement. For September 2025 admission, OAT scores must be taken from August 31, 2022 to September 30, 2024 (inclusive). Book your test early so you'll be able to meet this deadline.  Please visit the OAT website for information and the application Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO).

The OAT assesses first-year university science and organic chemistry knowledge. As soon as you have completed your introductory organic chemistry course you are ready to write the OAT. You can write it as many time as you'd like within the qualifying period. Only the highest score will be used. Keep in mind that once you've written the OAT there is a 60-day waiting period before you can re-write it again. 

All applicants are encouraged to study for the OAT. Although the School of Optometry has no data on the content or efficacy of any test preparation material, we offer a few starting points:

• Test preparation materials and a sample test are available on the ASCO website.
• Study guides are usually available in the UWaterloo bookstore and through suppliers such as Amazon - search for 'Optometry Admission Test'.
• Kaplan Test Prep offers sessions for the OAT.
• Do a web search for 'Optometry Admission Test' and check the sponsored links.

Can I still apply if any of my OAT section scores are below 300?

Yes, you are still able to apply. However, for a competitive application we recommend to have scores over 300.

Am I able to use an MCAT or DAT score instead of the OAT?  

No, we do not accept MCAT or DAT scores. Applicants must write the OAT. 

How do I study for the CASPer?

CASPer provides information on how to study. Altus Suite for Applicants - Webinar | TakeAltus  Suite Test Prep | TakeAltus

I'm applying to multiple programs. Can I take CASPer before applying through OUAC?

Please contact support@acuityinsights.com first.

What does the Admissions Committee look for in applications?

The Admissions Committee is looking for:

• Academic competence and evidence of ability to handle a full course load throughout undergraduate education.
• Service to the community and university, work experience and interpersonal skills.
• An understanding and knowledge of the profession of Optometry.  You must job shadowing with an optometrist which means observing eye exams. (A minimum of 8 hours is expected) but many applicants have many more hours completed.
• Personal qualities such as leadership, integrity, motivation, initiative, social awareness, personality, and the ability to work with others.
• All offers of admission are conditional upon successful completion of the current academic year and requirements. Students admitted must maintain their level of academic performance. The Admissions Committee reserves the right to deny admission to an already admitted student if their academic performance falls below acceptable standards.

If I do not get an interview invitation during the first stage, does that mean I have not been accepted into the program?

Unfortunately, applicants who do not receive an interview invitation will no longer be considered for admission. 

If I apply one year and am not admitted, will I have a better chance of being admitted the next year?

There is no advantage or disadvantage to applicants based on the number of times you apply to the Doctor of Optometry. Each year there is a separate admissions process through which you are evaluated against the applicants who are applying with you. It is your performance against this cohort, and the admission criteria that determines your admissibility.

I did not receive an admission offer. Can you provide me with feedback?

Regrettably we cannot provide individualized feedback for each application. Applicants who are unsuccessful are encouraged to carefully review the published admission criteria and self-assess for areas that they may have not met or can work to improve.

It is important to remember that Waterloo bases its admission decisions on factors above and beyond an applicant’s GPA. The OD program is extremely competitive with a limited number of seats, and depending on the quality of our applicant pool from year-to-year, it is inevitable that the Admissions Committee must turn away academically strong applications that are comparably not as strong in other areas.

Can I defer my offer of admission?

No, we cannot defer offers of admission. 

Can I arrange to go on a tour of the School of Optometry?

Tours of the Optometry building are only offered at the University's March Break Open House and Fall Open House. Due to heavy use of the Optometry building, tours cannot generally be arranged at other times. 

I understand the Clinic is moving while the Waterloo Eye Institute is under construction – will this affect my education?

The Waterloo Eye Institute (WEI) is a once-in-a generation renovation and expansion of our clinical space and addition of new state-of-the-art research facilities. Because of the scope of the project, the WEI will be under construction for approximately two years starting in fall 2024. Though there may be minor inconveniences associated with the construction, students’ quality of education will not change.

As of October 21, 2024, while the WEI is under construction, patient care will be in a nearby interim location at 419 Phillip St, approximately a 10-minute walk or three-minute drive away. Upper-year students will spend most of their clinic time there, where clinical education, including in specialty areas, will run as usual – just in a different location. As in previous years, upper-year students will also spend some time at our downtown Kitchener location.

First- and second-year students will continue to spend most of their time at the main School location, as classrooms (including the pre-clinic), the Witer Learning Resource Centre, study space and the COETF Student Commons will not be affected. Students will have clinic experience opportunities at the interim Waterloo clinic location and at the Kitchener location.   

I'm reapplying. Will I get a new Waterloo ID? Why does my AIF show as completed already?

You can use the same ID when registering for the Casper. However, you must wait for your application acknowledgement email before logging into Quest, so the AIF can reset.