The Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ) was established in 1996 with support of the optometrists registration boards in Australia and New Zealand, the Heads of the Optometry Schools, the Optometrists Association of Australia and the New Zealand Optometric Association. All are represented on OCANZ.

OCANZ assesses overseas optometry qualifications and conducts a competency-based examination for international optometrists. It also assesses, for the purposes of accreditation, the Australian and New Zealand optometry courses.