Frequently Asked Questions

No. To register as an optometrist with one of the Australian state or territory registration boards or with the registration board in New Zealand, it is necessary to pass the OCANZ Competency in Optometry Examination.

Also, if you undertake a postgraduate degree you are not automatically eligible to sit the examination. Eligibility for the examination is determined solely by the content of your undergraduate or bachelor degree in Optometry.

Candidates are advised to withdraw from the examination if an accident, illness or other unforeseen factor is likely to adversely affect examination performance. In the case of withdrawal, examination fees may be refunded less administration and other costs incurred by OCANZ. Fees may be forfeited if the candidate gives less than 7 days written notice of inability to attend any part of the examination.

You must sit the written examination within three years of being advised that you are eligible to sit the examinations.

Currently there are 8 venues for the written examination - Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Queensland, Auckland, London, Johannesburg and Washington.

From 2009, the clinical examinations will always be held in Melbourne.

No, but you must pass the clinical examination within three years of passing the written examination.

You will be notified by email within 4 weeks.

You will be notified by email within 1 week.

You can re-sit the written examination as many times as you wish.

The only requirement is that you must pass the clinical examination within three years of passing the written examination.

OCANZ does not provide any information about immigration. You need to contact www.immi.gov.au or www.immigration.govt.nz.

There are currently no bridging courses provided by OCANZ. Applicants may make private arrangements for tuition to assist them to prepare for the Competency in Optometry Examination.

A certified copy is a photocopy certified by a person entitled to witness a statutory declaration (such as a Justice of the Peace or a lawyer) as being a true copy of the original. For a full list, refer to: http://www.ag.gov.au/www/agd/agd.nsf/Page/Statutorydeclaration_Statutorydeclarationsignatorylist.

No, you only need to submit Form 2 or 3 (application form) once.

Unfortunately, OCANZ does not assess the qualifications of overseas-trained dispensing opticians. For information about working in Australia as a dispensing optician/optical dispenser please contact:

Australasian Dispensing Opticians Association
PO Box 5515, Chatswood West NSW 1515
Phone: (61 2) 9412 3033
Web: www.adoansw.org.au
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

You need to contact one of the Optometry Schools in Australia and New Zealand directly.

OCANZ assesses only overseas trained optometrists for recognition of their qualifications in Australia and New Zealand. The Council does not assess medical training as this is responsibility of the Australian Medical Council. The Australian Medical Council can be contacted via their website - www.amc.org.au.