Doctor of Optometry

The Advanced International Optometry Degree Program (AIODP) offers non-US trained optometrists, either with a Doctorate Degree in Optometry/Ophthalmology or with a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Optometry from an accredited or recognized International school/college of optometry and/or an international medical school, the opportunity to earn a Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. 

Accreditation Status

The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) has granted the AIODP program at the UAB School of Optometry the accreditation status of “Accredited.” Accredited is a classification granted to an educational program indicating that the program generally meets the Standards for accreditation. For more information, see the ACOE’s website at www.theACOE.org or contact the ACOE at accredit@theacoe.org.

Application Deadline

AIODP Admissions Requirements

• Doctorate Degree in Optometry/Ophthalmology, Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Optometry from an accredited or recognized international school/college of optometry with a GPA of at least a 3.2 on a 4.0 scale
• Successful completion of at least one year of direct, unsupervised clinical care following completion of optometry degree.  
• Must coordinate any immigration document needs directly with UAB’s Office of Global Engagement.
• Three letters of recommendation from former teachers, mentors or employers
• Students from non-English speaking countries are required to submit English proficiency scores (TOEFL/IELTS/PTEA) that meet the UAB Graduate School's minimum score requirements. 
  • TOEFL: 80*  
  • TOEFL Essentials: 8.5  
  • IELTS: 6.5  
  • PTEA: 56  
  • IELA: 176  
  • Duolingo: 120 

 *UAB does not accept My Best Scores from TOEFL. You will need to submit individual test date score reports to your application. Only English proficiency scores that have been taken within a two (2) year period of the application submission will be accepted.  Scores that exceed this time frame are considered expired and will not be accepted. 

AIODP Application Requirements

• Application forms must be complete.
  • Primary application at www.optomcas.org. UAB Supplemental Application at UABSO Supplemental Application for Admission. Note your interest in the AIODP program in the comments section on the supplemental application.
• Submit official transcripts from each college/university and optometry school to either Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES) for a course-by-course evaluation
• Original Personal Essay (please note the OptomCAS certification statement Applicant Responsibilities & Code of Conduct – OptomCAS)
• OAT scores if available (not required)

Please note that due to our small class size, not all applications will be accepted into this program.  Applying does not guarantee acceptance by the UAB School of Optometry. 

Application and Interview Process

After the admissions committee reviews the application, only those qualified will be invited for an initial online interview. If the initial interview is successful, a second, in-person interview at the UAB School of Optometry will be required before acceptance into the program. During the in-person interview, candidates will be asked to do the following:

• Demonstrate clinical proficiency with lensometry and eye examination skills by passing an in-person Clinical Practical Examination (CPE). Skills to be evaluated include:
  • Lensometry (manual)
  • Retinoscopy (with a phoropter)
  • Refraction (with a phoropter)
  • Binocular Vision Assessment (Cover Test)
  • Biomicroscopy (Slit Lamp) and Fundus Biomicroscopy (with a 78D or 90D lens)
  • Tonometry (Goldmann)
  • Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscopy (BIO) of peripheral retina and posterior pole
  • Clinical experience with gonioscopy and contact lenses (highly recommended but not required)
  • A basic science and clinical case-based written examination to evaluate critical thinking and familiarity with principles of optometric care.
• Complete a basic science and clinical case-based written examination to evaluate critical thinking and familiarity with principles of optometric care.

Tuition

• In-State Tuition: $10,868.56/semester
• Out-of-State Tuition:  $18,004/semester
• Fees: $5,250/semester for the first two semesters

AIODP Curriculum 2027-2029

Length of program: 29 months, 7 semesters

The UAB School of Optometry makes lasting contributions to eye care and vision science by providing education and clinical training to optometry students and postdoctoral residents. The fundamental goal of the four-year professional optometry program is to prepare its students to be the nation’s leaders in providing comprehensive, evidence-based eye care.

One of the top optometry programs in the nation, the UAB School of Optometry was one of the first in the U.S. to be fully integrated into an academic health system. As a result, small classes with a target size of 58 students are embedded within the vast network of academic and clinical resources offered by UAB. Internationally recognized faculty in optometry, vision science and ophthalmology teach students in a state-of-the-art clinical setting, with opportunities to engage in research.

Accreditation Status

The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) has granted the Doctor of Optometry program at the UAB School of Optometry the accreditation status of “Accredited.” Accredited is a classification granted to an educational program indicating that the program generally meets the Standards for accreditation. For more information, see the ACOE’s website at www.theACOE.org or contact the ACOE at accredit@theacoe.org.