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The sun sets along the Esplanade at WesternU framed by the HEC and the Daumier buildings. Photo taken

Externship Program

Hands-on Clinical Experiences

During the fourth year, students broaden their clinical experience at mostly off-campus externship sites. Throughout these four quarters, students will typically rotate through four sites that will provide exposure to a variety of clinical settings that may include private optometry or ophthalmology practices, Veterans Administration clinics, Indian Health Service clinics, armed forces facilities, as well as WesternU specialty clinics.

Care Harbor LA 2017 Care Harbor LA 2017 College of Optometry third-year student Evan Goldman examines the eyes of patient Paula Robinson of Los Angeles - Western University of Health Sciences is playing a key role in delivering services to Care Harbor patients during the event at The REEF Exposition Hall in Los Angeles

Externship Programs

Externship practice settings provide a diverse patient base, emphasizing patient management in primary care, vision rehabilitation, pediatrics, ocular disease, and surgical co-management. The international site selection provides students an opportunity to also explore locations throughout the U.S. and abroad.

The students’ formal optometric education culminates with the fourth year externship and it is expected that students will reach proficiency in optometric scope of practice that will fully prepare them for graduation, residency training, and licensing anywhere in the U.S. and Canada.