OCANZ

Updated 03 Jan 2025

Description :

To practise as an optometrist in Australia, you need to apply for and be registered with the Optometry Board of Australia (the Board). You may also need to apply for a visa issued by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. These two application processes are entirely separate and success in one does not automatically guarantee success in the other.

If you hold a substantially equivalent qualification in optometry obtained from an optometry education provider outside Australia and New Zealand, you must first apply to the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ) to complete the Competency in Optometry Examination (COE).

Once you have passed the written component of the Competency in Optometry Examination (COE), you may optionally apply through AHPRA for limited registration should you want to practise under the supervision of an optometrist in Australia prior to completing the required clinical component of the COE.

If you have trained outside Australia and New Zealand you must demonstrate competencies in ocular therapeutics prior to making an application for general registration. Those without prior ocular therapeutics training are required to complete an ocular therapeutics postgraduate course from a Board-approved program of study. Those with prior ocular therapeutics training, are required to pass the examination conducted by OCANZ, the Assessment of Competence in Ocular Therapeutics (ACOT) or complete an ocular therapeutics postgraduate course from a Board approved program of study.

When considering working as an optometrist in Australia, it's crucial to understand the distinct processes of skills assessment and registration. Here's a breakdown:

Key Requirements:
- Competence in Optometry Examination (COE):
  - This examination is a critical component of the skills assessment. It consists of a written and a clinical examination.
  - Eligibility to sit the COE requires demonstrating that your optometry qualifications are comparable to Australian standards.
- Educational Qualifications:
  - Your optometry degree must meet specific requirements, generally equivalent to a four-year full-time Australian optometry degree, or a three-year degree with one year of supervised clinical practice.
- OCANZ Assessment:
  - OCANZ assesses your educational qualifications to determine if they meet the requirements to allow you to sit the COE exam.
COE Exam Details:
- The COE exam tests both theoretical knowledge and practical clinical skills.
- It includes written examinations covering clinical and biomedical sciences, and clinical examinations assessing practical abilities.
- Cultural saftey training is also a requirement.

2. Registration:

Registering Authority:
- The Optometry Board of Australia (OBA) is the registering authority.
Registration Requirements:
- Successful completion of the OCANZ COE.
- Meeting the OBA's registration standards.
- English language proficiency.
- Providing evidence of professional indemnity insurance.
- Criminal history checks.
- Meeting the OBA's requirements regarding recency of practice.
- Ocular Therapeutics training may also be required.