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Campus Program

Admissions – Campus Program

Eligibility

Applicants to the on campus residency program must satisfy all requirements for California licensure. This includes successful completion of NBEO Part III and passing the California law exam administered through the state board.  Details about California licensure, how to take the law exam, and a copy of the California law can be found at:

www.optometry.ca.gov.

All applicants will be evaluated without regard to gender, race, color, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or national origin. The Residency Admissions Committee, chaired by the Dean, will follow the procedures of the University of California as an equal opportunity employer.

Academic Requirements

  • Graduated from an Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) accredited school or college of optometry, and have earned an OD degree by the time of matriculation.
  • Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in the optometry professional curriculum.
  • International students are eligible to apply for the program if they are currently at a US school of optometry on a student visa that can be converted to an OPT Visa for their residency year of study.

Dates & Time Requirements

  • The 2016-2017 program runs from June 27, 2016 (Monday) to July 1, 2017 (Saturday).
  • Residents are scheduled for 5 days/week and most clinics run from approximately 8am-6pm.  
  • All residents participate in the after hours emergency on-call program.
  • 10 days of personal leave and 7 days of educational leave are provided.

Costs

  • Tuition and fees are paid for by the program.
  • Residents receive a $32,000 stipend from the university.

Visits

We love to meet with prospective residents!  Our faculty are busy people, but if you’d like to visit, we will do our best to find a time to meet with you and show you around.  To get started, send an email to our residency director, Dr. Kuniyoshi Kanai at the email below.

  • kunikanai@berkeley.edu

Application Process

Application period:

Opens: September 6, 2016

Closes: January 6, 2017

To apply, follow these steps:

Step 1

Use the button below to apply for a residency via the Optometric Residency Match (ORMatch) program.  The Optometry Residency Match (“ORMatch”) is an application service and match that places applicants into optometry residency training positions.

[Button: ORMatch: www.natmatch.com/ormatch/]

Step 2

Complete an online UC Berkeley application for the Optometry Residency program. Follow instructions outlined in each section.  Please note that the on the campus application, the optometry residency program is sometimes called “Optometry Certificate.”

[Button: Apply http://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/apply/]

Application Notes

Online Application

Choose section not applicable for the following sections: Exam Requirements, FLAS Fellowship, and International Fellowship. However, make sure to complete everything else in your application.

Letter of Intent

Upload your Letter of Intent in following sections: Letter of Intent, Statement of Purpose, and Personal History Statement. In other words, you will be uploading the same document 3 times within your online application.

Transcripts

In the section that calls you to upload copies of your transcripts, please do so even if these are copies of unofficial transcripts.

Application Fee

You do not have to pay the application fee. When completing PAYMENT section, choose FEE EXEMPTION and then OPTOMETRY RESIDENCY PROGRAM from the list of eligibility. Follow the guidelines outlined in each section.

Applications for the off campus VA program

If you are interested in applying to a Berkeley affiliated VA (Veterans Administration) program as well as an on-campus program, you will need to send your application materials directly to the VA program(s) that you are applying to, in addition to completing the online application for the on campus program(s).

Candidates applying to affiliated VA programs must be US citizens at the time of the ORMatch, and if male, must have registered for Selective Service as required by the federal government.

Interviews

Qualified candidates that have completed an application may be invited by the Residency Admissions Committee to the campus for a formal interview.  

Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their application materials early to facilitate the scheduling of interviews.

Insurance and Immunization

  • Professional liability insurance is provided to residents while working in University internal and external clinics only.
  • Personal health insurance coverage is required. UC Berkeley Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) coverage is available for purchase from mid August of the program year to mid August 14 of the following year.  Residents can purchase coverage for the period not covered by SHIP.
  • Students  are required to obtain immunization, evidence of immunity, or freedom from disease for a number of common infectious diseases, for their protection and for the protection of the public they will serve.  

Questions?

Email questions about your UC Berkeley online application to us at:

optometry-residency@berkeley.edu