Application Overview: International Students and Advanced Standing

Licensing regulations in the United States generally require licensees to be graduates of US schools or colleges of optometry. Berkeley Optometry offers neither a certificate program* nor an accelerated program** for graduates of foreign optometry programs.

International applicants who have met our prerequisites are welcome to apply. However, we do not offer "Advanced Standing"** for foreign-trained optometrists, ophthalmologists, or opticians.

• All admitted applicants must complete the listed prerequisite courses prior to matriculation. Please review Regular Status for detailed instructions.
  
  
• Click on the following link for UC Berkeley specific requirements for foreign applicants: Graduate Admissions Requirements. Please Note: the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination may be required.
  
  
• *Of the twenty schools/colleges of optometry, the following will award an OD degree to graduates of foreign schools upon completion of a special program:
  • The New England College of Optometry
  • Pennsylvania College of Optometry
  • Pacific University, College of Optometry
    
    
• **Of the twenty schools/colleges of optometry, the following will admit graduates of foreign schools to their programs with advanced standing:
  • Illinois College of Optometry
  • The New England College of Optometry
  • State University of New York, State College of Optometry
  • University of Houston, College of Optometry
    

More information may be obtained directly from the individual institutions listed above.  For a list of schools and college of optometry and contact information, please visit the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry website: www.opted.org

If you have further questions about applying to our program, please refer to Ask an Advisor.

More Admissions Information

If you have additional questions after reading all the material under the Admissions Topics, please contact optometry-admissions@berkeley.edu.

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Admissions and Student Affairs Office (ASAO)
397 Minor Hall
School of Optometry
Berkeley, CA 94720-2020
Tel: 510-642-9537
Fax: 510-643-7111