Waterloo’s School of Optometry and Vision Science is the only English-language optometry school in Canada[6]. It admits 90 students a year to its four-year Doctor of Optometry (OD) and gets about 300 applications[4]. To apply you need three years of university science, 15 prerequisite courses, the OAT, Casper, shadowing and two references[2].
Waterloo optometry requirements at a glance
| Program | Doctor of Optometry (OD), four years, in English, in Waterloo, Ontario.[4] |
|---|---|
| University study | Three or more years of a BSc or other university science. The earliest you can apply is the fall of third year.[2] |
| Course load | A full course load in most terms: 4 of 6 terms over three years, or 5 of 8 over four.[2] |
| Minimum average | 75.0% overall at the time you apply.[2] |
| Prerequisites | 15 courses and 4 labs, done by the end of winter before you start.[2] |
| OAT | Required, with 300 or more in each section.[2] |
| Casper | Required: Casper 2 (CSP-10211), once per cycle.[2] |
| Experience | At least 8 hours shadowing an optometrist, plus work and volunteer experience.[2] |
| References | Two: the optometrist you shadowed and a character reference.[2] |
| Interview | Virtual, by invitation, in mid-to-late January.[5] |
| Deadline | November 12, 2026, through OUAC.[5] |
University study and average
The OD is a second-entry program. You take the prerequisites while working toward a bachelor’s degree, and you can apply in the fall of your third year[2]. If you are admitted after third year, you start optometry and don’t go back to your degree[2].
- Any accredited university is fine. Waterloo doesn’t prefer its own students, and your major doesn’t matter[2].
- Your overall average must be at least 75.0%. It is the weighted average of every course in your degree studies. Graduate grades don’t count[2][4].
- In recent years, admitted students had averages from 79% to 92%[2]. A very high average doesn’t guarantee a seat[4].
- Repeated courses count twice, and you can repeat a course only once[4].
- Credit/no-credit prerequisites are discouraged. A CR counts as 50% and an NCR as 32%[4].
- Courses taken more than 10 years ago may get extra review[4].
- A college-only background in Ontario is not enough. Two CEGEP years count as one university year, and R scores are not used[4].
Waterloo optometry: university averages of the entering class
Overall university average, in percent.
| Entering year | Highest average | Class mean | Lowest average | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94% | 85% | 80% | [1] |
| 2009 | 95% | 86% | 80% | [1] |
| 2010 | 94% | 86% | 79% | [1] |
| 2011 | 95% | 86% | 79% | [1] |
| 2015 | 95% | 87% | 80% | [1] |
| 2016 | 96% | 86% | 79% | [1] |
| 2017 | 94% | 85% | 79% | [1] |
| 2018 | 95% | 88% | 81% | [1] |
| 2019 | 95% | 88% | 79% | [1] |
| 2020 | 95% | 86% | 80% | [1] |
| 2021 | 96% | 87% | 79% | [1] |
| 2022 | 98% | 87% | 80% | [1] |
| 2023 | 96% | 89% | 80% | [1] |
| 2024 | 95% | 88% | 78% | [1] |
| 2025 | 96% | 89% | 82% | [1] |
| 2026 | 92% | 84% | 78% | [1] |
No published figure for missing years (2012, 2013, 2014).
Prerequisite courses
| Prerequisite course | Required | Lab required | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| English or writing | ✓ | – | 1 course |
| Introductory ethics | ✓ | – | 1 course |
| Introductory psychology | ✓ | – | 1 course |
| Introductory biology | ✓ | ✓ (1 lab) | 2 courses |
| Introductory microbiology | ✓ | – | 1 course |
| Physiology (human or mammalian) | ✓ | – | 2 courses |
| Introductory chemistry | ✓ | ✓ | 1 course |
| Introductory biochemistry | ✓ | – | 1 course |
| Introductory organic chemistry | ✓ | – | 1 course |
| Introductory physics | ✓ | ✓ (2 labs) | 2 courses |
| Calculus | ✓ | – | 1 course |
| Statistics | ✓ | – | 1 course |
“1 course” means one half-credit (one-term) course. That makes 15 courses and 4 labs in all[2].
All prerequisites must be finished by the end of the winter term before you start, and courses taken from May to September of your entry year don’t count. There are no exceptions[2]. The school won’t check your courses before you apply, so ask an advisor at your own university if you are unsure[2].
- Other humanities courses don’t count for English[2].
- Immunology doesn’t count for microbiology[2].
- Anatomy doesn’t count for physiology, unless the course is called “Human Anatomy and Physiology”[2].
- Online courses are treated the same as on-campus courses[4].
OAT requirements
You must write the Optometry Admission Test. Waterloo won’t take the MCAT or DAT instead[2][4].
- For Fall 2027 entry, write it between August 31, 2024 and September 30, 2026[2].
- You need at least 300 in each section. If you score below 300, you must retake it[2].
- If you write it more than once, Waterloo uses your highest score in each section[2].
- You are ready once you finish introductory organic chemistry, usually in the fall of second year[2].
- You must wait 60 days between attempts[2]. The OAT isn’t offered in Quebec[7].
The entering class averaged 374 in 2026, and the average has stayed between 366 and 386 since 2019[1]. Practise with our free OAT practice tests.
Waterloo optometry: average OAT score of the entering class
OAT scores run from 200 to 400.
| Entering year | Average OAT score | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 370 | [1] |
| 2009 | 370 | [1] |
| 2010 | 365 | [1] |
| 2011 | 365 | [1] |
| 2015 | 370 | [1] |
| 2016 | 370 | [1] |
| 2017 | 370 | [1] |
| 2018 | 380 | [1] |
| 2019 | 381 | [1] |
| 2020 | 380 | [1] |
| 2021 | 383 | [1] |
| 2022 | 384 | [1] |
| 2023 | 386 | [1] |
| 2024 | 366 | [1] |
| 2025 | 373 | [1] |
| 2026 | 374 | [1] |
Before 2019 the school published rounded averages. No published figure for missing years (2012, 2013, 2014).
Casper
Casper is mandatory. Register after you apply through OUAC, and use the test code CSP-10211 Canada Casper 2[2]. You can take it only once per cycle, and results are good for one year[2]. For Fall 2027 entry, the approved dates run from July 19 to November 5, 2026[5]. It costs about $50, plus $20 per extra school[3]. Read what the Casper test is and try our free Casper practice tests.
Forms, shadowing and references
Waterloo doesn’t ask for an essay. About three weeks after you apply, you fill in short forms instead[2]:
- A Declaration of Academic Experience form.
- An OD Prerequisite Courses form.
- An OD Experiences form: job shadowing, work, volunteering and activities outside class.
- A References Contact Form for your two referees.
Job shadowing: spend at least 8 hours with an optometrist. Most applicants have many more. You can’t shadow at the Waterloo Eye Institute clinics or a family member, and your most recent shadowing should be from the last two to three years[2].
Work and volunteering: the committee wants to see roles where you deal with the public[2].
References: you need two. The first is the optometrist you shadowed. The second is a character reference, such as an employer, supervisor, professor, coach or minister. Neither can be a relative[2].
The interview
After a first review, Waterloo invites some applicants to an interview. Invitations go out the week of December 21, and interviews are held during a virtual interview weekend in mid-to-late January[5]. If you aren’t invited, your application ends there[2].
In the interview, the committee looks at your knowledge of the profession, your motivation for optometry, how clearly you think, and your poise, self-confidence, warmth and expression of ideas[1]. Practise with our panel interview guide.
Key dates for Fall 2027 entry
- September 17, 2026Application opens on OUAC[5]
- September 30, 2026Last day to write the OAT[5]
- November 5, 2026Last approved Casper date[5]
- November 12, 2026Application closes[5]
- November 26, 2026Forms, interim transcript and English test results due[5]
- December 7, 2026Both reference forms due[5]
- Week of December 21, 2026Interview invitations and first-round refusals[5]
- Mid-to-late January 2027Virtual interview weekend[5]
- End of March 2027Admission decisions by email[5]
- May 7, 2027All courses finished[5]
- June 21, 2027Final transcripts due[5]
Who can apply
- You must be a Canadian citizen or a legal resident of Canada for at least 12 months before your first September. A limited number of international students may be considered[2].
- If English isn’t your first language and your last four years of full-time school weren’t in English, you need an English test[2].
- Waterloo has an Optometry Indigenous Admissions Pathway. It considers averages from 70.0% to 74.9%, needs one reference and a one-page motivational statement, and invites eligible Indigenous applicants to interview[8].
- Optometrists trained outside North America can apply to the Advanced Standing Optometry Preparatory Program, which leads into year 3 of the OD[9].
- Waterloo doesn’t defer offers and doesn’t take transfers from other optometry schools[2].
Tuition and costs
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition: Ontario residents | $18,800 | $18,800 | $18,800 | $26,700 |
| Tuition: other Canadians | $20,300 | $20,300 | $20,300 | $28,900 |
| Tuition: international | $76,100 | $76,100 | $76,100 | $112,600 |
| Books | $2,250 | $1,200 | $540 | n/a |
| Supplies and equipment | $4,500 | $7,100 | $1,350 | $570 |
Based on fall 2024 fees, as published by the school. Year 4 has three terms (spring, fall, winter), which is why it costs more. Housing, food and travel are extra[3].
Application fees: about $250 for OUAC, about $535 USD for the OAT and about $50 for Casper[3]. Admitted students also need a vulnerable sector police check and immunizations before clinic work[2].
Waterloo optometry admission statistics
| Minimum to apply | Average of the 2026 class | Lowest in the 2026 class | Average OAT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo | 75.0% | 84% | 78% | 374 |
Waterloo’s class has stayed at about 90 students since at least 2008, while applications have moved between 245 and 300[1]. That means roughly one seat for every three applicants.
Waterloo optometry: applicants and class size
Each point is one entering class, as reported by the school.
| Entering year | Applicants | First-year class | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 250 | 90 | [1] |
| 2009 | 265 | 90 | [1] |
| 2010 | 300 | 90 | [1] |
| 2011 | 300 | 90 | [1] |
| 2015 | 286 | 90 | [1] |
| 2016 | 250 | 90 | [1] |
| 2017 | 265 | 90 | [1] |
| 2018 | 260 | 90 | [1] |
| 2019 | 250 | 90 | [1] |
| 2020 | 245 | 90 | [1] |
| 2021 | 295 | 90 | [1] |
| 2022 | 295 | 91 | [1] |
| 2023 | 269 | 89 | [1] |
| 2024 | 267 | 91 | [1] |
| 2025 | 262 | 90 | [1] |
| 2026 | 280 | 90 | [1] |
The school’s archived pages skip 2012 to 2014. No published figure for missing years (2012, 2013, 2014).
Once in, most students finish: 93% to 98% of recent classes graduated in four years[6]. In 2025, 92 of 93 students who finished the program were licensed or had passed a full licensing exam series[6].
Frequently asked questions
What average do you need for Waterloo Optometry?
Does Waterloo Optometry require the OAT?
How many students does Waterloo Optometry accept?
90 a year, from about 300 applications.[4]
Can I apply to Waterloo Optometry after second year?
No. You need three years of university science, and the earliest you can apply is the fall of third year.[2]
Does Waterloo Optometry require Casper?
Yes, Casper 2 (CSP-10211), taken once per cycle.[2]
How many shadowing hours do you need for Waterloo Optometry?
At least 8 hours with an optometrist, but most applicants have many more.[2]
Sources
- University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science: selection process
- University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science: application requirements
- University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science: financial considerations
- University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science: frequently asked questions
- University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science: application timeline
- University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science: graduation and exam success rates
- ADA / ASCO: Optometry Admission Test (OAT)
- University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science: Optometry Indigenous Admissions Pathway
- University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science: Advanced Standing Optometry Preparatory Program
Figures were checked against these sources on November 4, 2026. Optometry schools change their rules every cycle, so confirm on the official site before you apply.