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 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. The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) has granted 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 http://www.theacoe.org or contact the ACOE at accredit@theacoe.org.

AIODP Admissions Requirements

• Doctorate Degree in Optometry/Ophthalmology, Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Optometry from an accredited 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 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:

• Clinical test to evaluate entry-level clinical eye examination skills. Candidates must show clinical proficiency commiserate with end of 2^nd year traditional optometry students and pass a Comprehensive Practical Examination (CPE). 
• A basic science and clinical case-based written examination to evaluate critical thinking and familiarity with principles of optometric care.

Accreditation

The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) serves as the accrediting body for professional optometric degree (O.D.) programs in the United States and Canada. The UAB School of Optometry is accredited by the ACOE, and the scope of accreditation includes the AIODP.

Tuition

• In-State Tuition: $10,552/semester
• Out of State Tuition:  $18,004/semester

AIODP Curriculum 2027-2029

Length of program: 29 months, 7 semesters

AIODP students will begin the program in January and join the traditional 2^nd year optometry class for six of the nine courses spring semester. AIODP students will also be enrolled in the AIODP Ocular Pharmacology course and Clinical Skills Lab during spring. The Clinical Skills Lab is a customized, hands-on lab designed to address any clinical skills identified during the admissions exam requiring remediation or practice to ensure students are prepared to enter clinic.  Summer semester, the AIODP students are enrolled in the Integrated Human Physiology course, which provides the AIODP students with an essential review of human physiology and pathology. During the summer, AIODP students are also enrolled in Geometric and Clinical Optics.  AIODP students successfully meeting the requirements of the Clinical Skills Lab will enter clinical care during the summer semester. Beginning in Fall, AIODP students will be fully integrated into the program taking classes with the traditional 3^rd year optometry students. The final year of the program, AIODP students complete the 4^th year clinical rotations and externships prior to graduation. 

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.

Now 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 within a state-of-the-art clinical practice, students have the opportunities to engage in research.

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