Each optometry school has different requirements for prerequisite courses. Research schools early for specific information about requirements.

Click here for a list of prerequisite courses provided by the Association of School and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), updated annually. 

Applications are submitted 12-15 months before your desired optometry school enrollment date. This means the application process can begin as early as the spring of your junior year. However, the timing depends on the successful completion of your degree, necessary coursework, and required entrance exam.

Optometry School Application process includes 5 main components:

1. The Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) is preferred/recommended, but some schools will also accept DAT, GRE, and MCAT.
2. Primary Application
3. Letters of Recommendation
4. Secondary Applications (Most Schools)
5. Interviews

Spring

• Complete the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) by late spring or early summer, to ensure scores are reported on time.
• Request letters from your recommenders—check individual schools for specific criteria.
• Prepare your personal statement and gather all official transcripts.

Summer

• OptomCAS, the centralized application portal for Optometry school, opens in late June. Submit your primary application and transcripts as early as possible to maximize seat availability. 
• Complete individual school's supplemental applications and pay associated fees as soon as prompted. 

Fall

• Schools begin reviewing verified files and extending interview invitations as early as August or September. 
• Admissions committees typically issue acceptance, waitlist, or rejection decisions within two to three weeks following your interview. 

Letters of Recommendation:

All schools require two letters of recommendation, one from a non-relative optometrist and one from a science professor. Please check here for specific school requirements. Begin early to establish a network of professors, supervisors (for volunteer or paid work), and healthcare providers who are familiar with your work. It is important to choose recommenders who know you well.

Personal Statements:

The personal statement is about you and your motivation for pursuing a career in optometry.  Be sure to highlight preparation, aptitude, and future goals within the field using specific stories from recent experiences. Try to choose a theme rather than random thoughts and avoid referencing information that is duplicated elsewhere in your application. 

The OAT (Optometry Admissions Test) is administered throughout the year at various testing sites. Ideally, schedule the exam after completing your prerequisite science courses and aim to take it well before you plan to submit your application to optometry school. 

For more detailed information on the OAT, click here.

Most optometry schools hold interview days where they bring in a group of applicants for a day that may consist of some or all of the following: Interviews, written essays, school tours, and opportunities to meet students and faculty.

Interviews can take many forms, so it is important to research your schools and be prepared for each kind. The Stuckert Career Center can help you with preparation tips and practicing your interviewing skills.

The most common types of interviews are:

• One-on-one: Usually, one or two interviews ranging 30-45 minutes.
• Multiple Mini Interview (MMI): 7-10 rooms with a different prompt or scenario posted on the door. You are typically given 2 minutes to prepare before entering the room. Once you enter, you are given 5-8 minutes to respond to the prompt or play out the scenario with a trained actor and ask follow-up questions.
• Group: May be either one applicant interviewed by several interviewers or a group of applicants interviewed by one or more interviewer.

Involvement allows you to supplement a strong academic record. Working or volunteering as a vision therapist, optometric technician, or optician strengthens your profile. Non-healthcare volunteering shows empathy, communication skills, and a commitment to helping others. Active participation in undergraduate pre-health or pre-optometry organizations demonstrates early dedication to the profession. However, it is important to remember that such activities will not substitute for poor grades, so don’t sacrifice study time for activities. 

Most schools recommend or require a minimum of 10-30 hours of shadowing, though competitive applicants often complete 50 hours or more. Admissions committees prefer seeing exposure to multiple practice modes (such as private practice, commercial, or hospital settings). Shadowing helps confirm your career choice and provides a source for required letters of recommendation. 

Optometry Schools in Kentucky

• University of Pikeville

Find an Optometry School

• Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry

•  Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO)
•  Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptumCAS)