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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 2025 via OptomCAS through April 1, 2024.

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
    • 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)

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.

 

  • 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

  • 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