The Advanced International Optometry Degree Program (AIODP) offers non-US trained optometrists, either with a Doctorate Degree in Optometry/Ophthalmology or with a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Optometry from an accredited recognized International school/college of optometry and/or an international medical school, the opportunity to earn a Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. The UAB School of Optometry is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education.
Application Deadline
Applications are being accepted for the class entering January 2026 via OptomCAS through April 1, 2025.
AIODP Admissions Requirements
- Doctorate Degree in Optometry/Ophthalmology, Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Optometry from an accredited recognized international school/college of optometry with a GPA of at least a 3.2 on a 4.0 scale
- Successful completion of at least one year of direct clinical care
- Must meet all admission requirements of the UAB International Student Services Office
- Three letters of recommendation from former teachers, mentors or employers
- For any student who does not speak English as a primary language, TOEFL iBT scores must be provided through OptomCAS. The Home Edition of TOEFL is accepted
- AIODP application requirements
- Application forms must be complete
- Primary application at www.optomcas.org. UAB Supplemental Application at UABSO Supplemental Application for Admission. Note your interest in the AIODP program in the comments section on the supplemental application.
- Submit official transcripts from each college/university and optometry school to either Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES) for a course-by-course evaluation
- Personal Essay
- OAT scores if available (not required)
- Application forms must be complete
Interview Process
- Qualified applicants may be invited to an initial online interview. A second, in-person interview at the UAB School of Optometry will be required of final applicants before acceptance into the program.
- Clinical test to evaluate entry-level clinical eye examination skills
- Candidates must show clinical proficiency commiserate with end of 2nd year traditional optometry students and pass a Comprehensive Practical Examination (CPE).
- Case-based clinical test to evaluate critical thinking and familiarity with optometric care
- Meet with the AIODP Admissions Committee
Accreditation
The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) serves as the accrediting body for professional optometric degree (O.D.) programs in the United States and Canada. The UAB School of Optometry is accredited by the ACOE, and the scope of accreditation includes the AIODP.
Tuition
- In-State Tuition: $9,945.71/semester
- Out of State Tuition: $18,004/semester
AIODP Curriculum 2024-2026
Length of program: 29 months, 7 semesters
AIODP students will begin the program in January and join the traditional 2nd year optometry class for four of the six courses spring semester. AIODP students will also be enrolled in the AIODP Ocular Pharmacology course and Clinical Skills Lab during spring. The Clinical Skills Lab is a customized, hands-on lab designed to address any clinical skills identified during the admissions exam requiring remediation or practice to ensure students are prepared to enter clinic. Summer semester, the Integrated Human Physiology course provides the AIODP students with an essential review of human physiology and pathology. AIODP students successfully meeting the requirements of the Clinical Skills Lab will enter clinical care during the initial summer semester. Beginning in Fall, AIODP students will be fully integrated in the program taking classes with the traditional 3rd year OPT students. The final year of the program, AIODP students complete the 4th year clinical rotations and externships prior to graduation.
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Spring 2024
January 2 – May 3, 2024
Course Spring 00 Instructor Clinical Skills Lab TBD J. Craig AIDOP Posterior Seg I 2 sem/32 clk hrs M. Swanson AIDOP + OPT2 Anterior Seg 5 sem/96 clk hrs C. Pate AIDOP + OPT2 Ocular Pharmacology 4 sem/64 clk hrs C. Turner AIDOP Clinicolegal 2 sem/24 clk hrs TBD AIDOP + OPT2 Optometric Clinical Seminar 1 sem/13 clk hrs B. Steele AIDOP + OPT2 -
Summer 2024
May 13 – August 9, 2024
Course Spring 00 Instructor Integrated Human Physiology 2.5 sem/24 clk hrs C. McNicholas AIDOP Systemic Pharmacology 2 sem/18 clk hrs J. Ziemanski/C. Turner/A. Logan AIDOP + OPT2 Ophthalmic Imaging 2 sem/18 clk hrs K. Brown AIDOP + OPT2 Primary Care CLN* 3 sem/96 clk hrs T. Call AIDOP + OPT2 Clinical Skills Lab* TBD J. Craig AIDOP *Students will be placed in either PC CLN or CSE based on results skill level at the end of Spring 00
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Fall 2024
August 12 – December 6, 2024
Course Fall 01 Instructor Pediatric Optometry 4 sem/80 clk hrs K. Weise/N. West AIDOP + OPT3 Geriatric Optometry 1 sem/16 clk hrs M. Swanson AIDOP + OPT3 Anomalies of BV II 4 sem/80 clk hrs K. Hopkins AIDOP + OPT3 Low Vision 2 sem/48 clk hrs C. Maharrey AIDOP + OPT3 Contact Lenses I 3 sem/64 clk hrs K. Clore AIDOP + OPT3 Glaucoma 2 sem/24 clk hrs J. Ziemanski AIDOP + OPT3 Posterior Segment II 2 sem/24 clk hrs M. Swanson AIDOP + OPT3 Specialty Clinic Obs/CEC 1.5 sem/48 clk hrs T. Oechslin AIDOP + OPT3 Primary Care Clinic III 3 sem/96 clk hurs T. Call AIDOP + OPT3 -
Spring 2025
January – May 5, 2025
Course Spring 01 Instructor Neuro Optometry 2 sem/32 clk hrs M. Swanson AIDOP + OPT3 Assessment of Systemic Dz 3 sem/62 clk hrs A. Logan AIDOP + OPT3 Clinical Management 2 sem/48 clk hrs A. Rothstein AIDOP + OPT3 Injections and Minor Sx 3 sem/56 clk hrs T. Call AIDOP + OPT3 Ophthalmic Lasers 1 sem/16.5 clk hrs B. Steele AIDOP + OPT3 Contact Lenses II 3 sem/56 clk hrs J. Craig AIDOP + OPT3 Specialty Clinic Obs/CEC 2 sem/64 clk hrs T. Oechslin AIDOP + OPT3 Primary Care Clinic IV 3 sem/96 clk hrs T. Call AIDOP + OPT3 -
Summer 2025
May – August 2025
Course Summer 01 Instructor Primary Care Clinic V 2 sem/24 clk hrs T. Call AIDOP + OPT3 Pediatrics Clinic I 2 sem/24 clk hrs K. Weise AIDOP + OPT3 Ocular Disease I 2 sem/24 clk hrs M. Swanson AIDOP + OPT3 Contact Lens Clinic I 2 sem/24 clk hrs A Gordon AIDOP + OPT3 Special Rotations III 2 sem/24 clk hrs T. Oechslin AIDOP + OPT3 Externship I (full semester) 20 sem/480 clk hrs C. Turner AIDOP + OPT3 Externship I (half semester) 10 sem/240 clk hrs C. Turner AIDOP + OPT3 -
Fall 2025
August – December 2025
Course Fall 02 Instructor Primary Care Clinic VI 4 sem/128 clk hrs T. Call AIDOP + OPT4 Pediatrics Clinic II 4 sem/128 clk hrs K. Weise AIDOP + OPT4 Ocular Disease II 4 sem/128 clk hrs M. Swanson AIDOP + OPT4 Contact Lens Clinic II 4 sem/128 clk hrs A Gordon AIDOP + OPT4 Special Rotations IV 4 sem/128 clk hrs T. Oechslin AIDOP + OPT4 Externship I or II 20 sem/640 clk hrs C. Turner AIDOP + OPT4 -
Spring 2026
January – May 2026
Course Spring 02 Instructor Primary Care Clinic VII 4 sem/128 clk hrs T. Call AIDOP + OPT4 Pediatrics Clinic III 4 sem/128 clk hrs K. Weise AIDOP + OPT4 Ocular Disease III 4 sem/128 clk hrs M. Swanson AIDOP + OPT4 Contact Lens Clinic III 4 sem/128 clk hrs A Gordon AIDOP + OPT4 Special Rotations V 4 sem/128 clk hrs T. Oechslin AIDOP + OPT4 Externship I or II 20 sem/640 clk hrs C. Turner AIDOP + OPT4