Examination > Overseas Optometrists

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. OCANZ strongly recommends you do not book travel arrangements until you have received final confirmation of your allocated session.

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.

Fees

The fees for the skills examination are payable per attempt. There is no refund for failure in the skills examination, however, if a candidate fails the skills examination, and is therefore not able to sit the patient examination in the same session, the patient examination fee is not payable and a candidate who paid for this examination has two options.

  1. A full refund of the patient examination fee (a $200 administration fee will be charged)

or

  1. The patient examination fee can be retained by OCANZ as a credit to be used towards a future clinical examination (no administration fee will be charged).

Withdrawal prior to the clinical examination

Withdrawal from an examination must be provided in writing to exam.manager@ocanz.org. Any withdrawal from OCANZ written and clinical examinations will incur a $200 administration fee. The amount refunded or held in credit towards another examination attempt is dependent on the notice provided by the candidate, as outlined below.

Clinical examination
  • Day before examination to 4 weeks before examination: no refund or credit.
  • 4 to 6 weeks before date of examination: 50% of fee paid (less $200 administration fee) is refunded or credited to candidate.
  • More than 6 weeks before date of examination: 100% of fee paid (less $200 administration fee) is refunded or credited to candidate.

The candidate guide, competency standards and appendix are available below.

View the OCANZ Exam Process video below.

View the OCANZ Clinical Examination Venue Walkthrough video below.

For more information, view our frequently asked questions below.

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