Pre-Optometry
January 8, 2025 2025-12-09 15:28Pre-Optometry
Eye on Your Future
Pre-Optometry
Gain the prerequisites for optometry school.
Pre-Professional Program in Optometry
The Pre-Optometry Advising Track is not a major — it’s an added advising layer that you combine with any degree program at the University of Lynchburg. Optometry schools admit students from diverse academic backgrounds, but almost all require a rigorous foundation in biology, chemistry, physics, and behavioral sciences. This track helps you complete those requirements while also building a strong profile for admission to Doctor of Optometry (OD) programs.
Whether you major in Biology – Biomedical Science, Chemistry, Public Health, or a different field, the track ensures you receive support for prerequisite planning, optometry-related clinical experience, the OAT (Optometry Admission Test), letters of recommendation, and the application timeline. Lynchburg’s faculty advisors guide you through selecting the right courses, understanding admissions expectations, and exploring the optometry profession, including its many subspecialties.
Our goal is to make sure you feel confident, prepared, and supported as you take the next steps toward optometry school.
How to Declare a Pre-Optometry Advising Track
To formally join:
- Contact the Office of Academic Advising.
- Request to declare the Pre-Optometry Advising Track.
- You will be paired with a faculty advisor who specializes in optometry preparation.
Declaring ensures you receive ongoing course sequencing support and updates relevant to your professional goals.
Recommended Majors
Students pursuing optometry most often choose:
Other majors are possible with careful course planning.
Prerequisite Courses for Optometry School
Most optometry programs require the following:
Core Sciences
- Biology (2 semesters with lab)
- General Chemistry (2 semesters with lab)
- Organic Chemistry (2 semesters with lab)
- Physics (2 semesters with lab)
Additional Common Requirements
- Microbiology
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Calculus
- Statistics
- Psychology and/or Sociology
- English (2 semesters)
- Additional upper-level biology electives
Programs vary, so personalized course planning is essential.
Recommended Lynchburg Courses
Core Courses
- BIOL 113, 114
- CHEM 111, 112, 221, 222
- PHYS 161, 162 or PHYS 141, 142
- ENGL 123W
Additional Recommended Courses
- Microbiology
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
- Cell Biology
Clinical Experience & Shadowing
Optometry schools strongly recommend, and some require, supervised observation hours in optometric settings. Common experiences include:
- Shadowing a licensed optometrist
- Volunteering at community vision clinics
- Assisting with patient screening events
- Observing ophthalmology practices
Documenting hours early will help support your application through OptomCAS.
What Jobs Can I Get With Pre-Optometry?
Graduates typically continue their education in optometry school to become optometrists. Job titles include:
- Optometrist: $110,000
- Vision Therapist: $60,000
- Ophthalmic Technician: $45,000
- Contact Lens Specialist: $58,000
- Optometry Clinic Manager: $70,000
- Optical Lab Technician: $40,000
- Research Optometrist: $100,000
- Optometry Professor: $90,000
- Low Vision Specialist: $95,000
- Pediatric Optometrist: $120,000
Salary and job projections come from national averages in the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other sources, including Glassdoor, Indeed, and industry-specific posts and publications. The data is meant to provide you with an idea of career options and salary ranges, not as a guarantee of obtaining these positions after graduation. These represent national averages and may vary by source and time frame collected. Actual salaries vary by region. Some jobs may require additional training or graduate education.
