[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-292811-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-292811-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","optometry-od","Optometry (OD)","","Guide for students interested in optometry, explaining what Doctors of Optometry (O.D.s) do beyond prescribing lenses, including diagnosing and treating ocular and visual system problems. Covers training expectations: O.D. degree length, clinical experience, licensing requirements, and possible 1-year residency for specialization. Provides admissions and application planning advice, including common course prerequisites, the Optometry Admission Test (OAT), recommendation letters, and an application timeline from pre-application through matriculation via OptomCAS.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/","Exam",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/optometry-od/292811/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/optometry-od/292811.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Skyler","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-22","2026-09-17",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",15,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What do Doctors of Optometry (O.D.s) do besides prescribing lenses?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"O.D.s examine the eyes and visual system, diagnose and treat visual problems, manage eye diseases, injuries, and disorders, and prescribe lenses as needed. Many are also recognized as primary care providers for ocular and visual care.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What are the main steps and requirements to become an O.D.?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Complete a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree program, which typically takes 4 years, and earn a bachelor’s degree before entering. Programs combine classroom learning and supervised clinical experience; some graduates complete a 1-year residency for advanced specialization.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What is the typical optometry application timeline and key milestones?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"After planning pre-application steps, students research schools in January, register for the OAT at least two months before the test, and draft personal statements and letters. In April they take the OAT (if needed) and finalize school lists; in June OptomCAS opens and fee assistance can be applied for, followed by submission and supplemental applications during the cycle that runs roughly July through the next May.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},292811,1789655942,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,95,100,105,110,115,120,123,127],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":93,"slug":94},70,"exam",{"id":96,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":97,"show_sort_weight":98,"slug":99},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":101,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":124,"slug":126},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":128,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":130},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":132},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":133,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":33,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":26,"language":140,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":80,"read_time":96},2336464648746,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_276721f389ce27ea32af1340a28f341c","OPTOMETRY ( OD)   \nDID YOU KNOW?  \n Many students who select a science major find a great deal of overlap between their major requirements and those required for optometry school;A science major is not required. Students should choose a major based on their interests and an area that they find exciting, which at the same time, will keep them academically competitive.  \n O.D. 's do much more than prescribing and fitting lenses. They are increasingly viewed as primary care providers for patients seeking ocular or visual care.  \n The flexibility to work either full-time or part-time allows optometrists to achieve a work-life balance that is rarely matched in other professional careers.  \n OptomCAS is the central application service for schools and colleges of optometry., and opens late June.  \n Optometry schools typically require between 2-3 recommendation letters.  \n There are 24 schools and colleges of optometry in the U.S. and two in Canada.  \nOptometrists, or Doctors of Optometry (O. D.'s) examine the eyes and other parts of the visual system. They diagnose and treat visual problems, manage diseases, injuries, and disorders related to the eyes, and prescribe lenses as needed. O. D.'s can practice either independently, in a group practice, orin health clinics, hospitals, or the military. Some get involved with research—exploring new treatmentsand cures for eye diseases and other ailments.  \nOptometrists must complete a Doctor of Optometry (O. D.) degree program and obtain a license to practice in a particular state. O. D. programs take 4 years to complete, and student must have a bachelors degree upon entering. O. D. Programs combine classroom learning and supervised clinical experience. After finishing [an O.D. degree](an O.D. degree), some optometrists complete a 1-year residency program to receive advanced clinical training in the area in which they wish to specialize.  \nAs an undergraduate Pre-Optometry student, it is important to review the admissions requirements of each optometry school as all have varying criteria. It is recommended to shadow several optometrists in different settings though not every optometry school mandates a certain number of shadowing hours. Each applicant should become acquainted with at least one optometrist and, if possible, gain some firsthand experience. The most common optometry school exam is the Optometry Admission Test (OAT). While all schools and colleges will accept the OAT, there are other options for standardized tests. Please consult the Optometry Programs Admissions Directory for specific application requirements.  \nWe encourage you to meet with a Pre-Health Advisor at least once a semester to ensure satisfactory progress towards your goals!  \nCOMMON CORE COURSES  \nStudents are responsible for verifying the prerequisite coursework and policies of the schools to which they plan to apply.  \n\n| Course | \\# of courses | USC Course(s) |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| General Biology | 2 courses with lab | BISC 120L and BISC 220Lor BISC 121L and BISC 221L |\n| General Chemistry | 2 courses with lab | CHEM 105aL and CHEM 105bL or CHEM 115aL and CHEM 115bL |\n| Organic Chemistry | 1 course with lab is generally required. Check with individual schools. | CHEM 322aL\u003Cbr>or\u003Cbr>CHEM 325aL |\n| Physics | 2 courses with lab | PHYS 135aL and PHYS 135bL or PHYS 151L and PHYS 152L |\n| Mathematics | 1 calculus course\u003Cbr>1 statistics course | MATH 125g or MATH 126g and/or MATH 208x or BISC 305 or HP 340 or PSYC 274g |\n| Biochemistry | 1 course. Please refer to individual school for lab requirements. | Science Majors: BISC 330L\u003Cbr>Non-Science Majors: CHEM 350g (Fall only) or BISC 312 (Spring only) |\n| Anatomy | 1 course | HBIO 301L |\n| Physiology | 1 course | BISC 307L |\n| Microbiology | 1 course | BISC 300L |\n| English | 2 courses | WRIT 150 and WRIT 340 |\n| Psychology | 1 course | PSYC 100L |\n\nWWW. DO RN SI FE. USC. EDU/ PRE-HEALTH  \nAPPLICATION TIMELINE  \nThe following is a general timeline from pre-application ","cbCaioo5rBi9jv7f","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaioo5rBi9jv7f","pdf",433303,"English","# Did You Know?\n## O.D. Role and Training\n# Common Core Courses\n# Application Timeline","[{\"question\":\"What do Doctors of Optometry (O.D.s) do besides prescribing lenses?\",\"answer\":\"O.D.s examine the eyes and visual system, diagnose and treat visual problems, manage eye diseases, injuries, and disorders, and prescribe lenses as needed. Many are also recognized as primary care providers for ocular and visual care.\"},{\"question\":\"What are the main steps and requirements to become an O.D.?\",\"answer\":\"Complete a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree program, which typically takes 4 years, and earn a bachelor’s degree before entering. Programs combine classroom learning and supervised clinical experience; some graduates complete a 1-year residency for advanced specialization.\"},{\"question\":\"What is the typical optometry application timeline and key milestones?\",\"answer\":\"After planning pre-application steps, students research schools in January, register for the OAT at least two months before the test, and draft personal statements and letters. In April they take the OAT (if needed) and finalize school lists; in June OptomCAS opens and fee assistance can be applied for, followed by submission and supplemental applications during the cycle that runs roughly July through the next May.\"}]","Optometry (OD) | PDF"]