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Welcome Foreign-Trained Professionals &
International Students

Doctor of Optometry

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Western University of Health Sciences and the College of Optometry welcome Doctor of Optometry candidates from all over the world. As a global society, we are committed to cultural diversity and integrating our student body with people who bring wide-ranging views and passion for improving the lives of people in their community and beyond.

 

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Doctor of Optometry at WesternU

The mission of the Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry is to graduate caring, comprehensive health care professionals who will serve the needs of a diverse global society. We offer an innovative Doctor of Optometry program that emphasizes optometric rehabilitation including neuro-optometry. This emerging specialty helps patients who have visual and perceptual problems as a result of brain injury, stroke, physical disability or neurological illness.

Our emphasis on optometric rehabilitation includes:
  • vision therapy
  • low vision rehabilitation
  • care for vulnerable populations such as those with developmental disabilities
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A doctor demonstrates with a medical model to a man and woman seated at a table in a classroom setting.

Faculty Mentorship & Student Camaraderie

We are a College of scholars and practitioners that care for one another. Our faculty members act as mentors helping to ensure student success. Our students flourish in an environment dedicated to excellent educational experiences in the classroom, in the laboratory, in clinical education settings, and in the community.
  • community of peer and faculty support
  • individualized educational experiences
  • instructors who treat students as colleagues

    • Upon graduation, you will walk away with meaningful personal and professional connections.
An optometrist in a white coat is examining a patient's eyes using specialized equipment in a clinical setting.

Your Career as an Optometrist

Imagine a career where you can shape the way people see the world around them. As a Doctor of Optometry at WesternU, you have the power to transform lives.

Optometry careers are growing due to three main reasons: an aging population that requires an increased need for vision care services, technological advancements that are improving the diagnosis and treatment of various eye diseases, and the expansion of the scope of practice for optometrists to include more medical services such as low vision or diabetic vision care.

  • 11th best healthcare job in the U.S. (U.S. News & World Report)
    • One of the fastest growing professions in the nation (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
      • National median salary $131,860 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
  • Admissions Information

    The College of Optometry Advanced Standing program is designed for international students who are currently attending an optometry program, other than the United States or Canada, or an individual who earned a terminal medical degree (such as Bachelor’s in Medicine or Doctor of Medicine) or Optometry degree from outside the United States or Canada.

    Our Optometry Admissions Committee evaluates all international applicants. You must complete all required admissions materials and prove English language proficiency. The Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) or the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) are not required but will help determine placement.

    After the comprehensive review, you can be placed into 2nd, 3rd , or 4th year, which means the Optometry IAS program can last anywhere from 1 to 3 years.
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    Let’s Get Started

    • Passionate for Helping Others
    • Focused on Health/Wellness
    • Problem Solving that Changes Lives for the Better
    • You want to qualify for a state license in the U.S.

    The College of Optometry values a rich, humanistic tradition and is committed to professional collaboration, community involvement, accountability, integrity, and respect.

    Welcome to WesternU. Take the next step.
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    Choose WesternU California

    Get more information on WesternU’s Doctor of Optometry Advance Standing program today.
    College of Optometry | Health Education Center | 701 E Second St, Pomona, CA 91766