Competency in Optometry Examination

Examination Dates and Venues

Dates

Written Parts

2025

First Series - Online (remote proctored examination):

Monday 3rd & Tuesday 4th March 2025 
Application available after 1st January 2025
Closing Date: Thursday 6th February 2025

Second Series - Online (remote proctored examination):

Monday 4th & Tuesday 5th August 2025 
Application available on 1st July 2025
Closing Date: Thursday 3rd July 2025

NOTE: Applicants are only able to apply for the examination once they have been assessed as eligible. Please note that Form 2 applications take 4 weeks to process, Form 3 applications take 8 weeks to process. 

Clinical Parts

2025

First Series

Session One: Week of 23 June 2025
Session Two: Week of 30 June 2025
Closing Date: Thursday 8th May 2025

NOTE: If applications for the Clinical Examination are higher than usual, a third session may be scheduled.

Second Series

Session One: Week of 17 November 2025
Session Two: Week of 24 November 2025
Closing Date: Thursday 9th October 2025

NOTE: If applications for the Clinical Examination are higher than usual, a third session may be scheduled.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATING TO THE CLINICAL EXAMINATION

  • Both sections of the Clinical Examination (Skills Station and Patient Examination) are held over a period of one week. This means that candidates will undertake the Skills Station and Patient Examination components of the examination within a five day period (scheduled from Monday morning to Friday evening).
  • Applications are available from the Examination Manager via exam.manager@ocanz.org on successful completion of the written examination component.  Candidates are able to select their preferred session, however, this session is NOT guaranteed. Sessions will NOT be allocated and candidates will NOT be advised of final session until after the relevant closing dates.
  • Allocation of sessions is based on a first come first served basis.  Please note that once sessions are fully subscribed, a third session will only be available if there are sufficient numbers and venue availability.  Candidates may need to wait until the next series of clinical examinations.

Venues

The written examination is held as a remote online proctored examination.

The venue for the Clinical Parts of the examination will be the Australian College of Optometry in Melbourne, Australia.

It is a strong recommendation of the facility where the clinical examination is conducted that candidates are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including booster vaccines where necessary.

For information on fees go to Examination Fees