Certificate in Pre-Optometry at University of Idaho

The Pre-Optometry at University of Idaho is a Certificate program designed for students who want to build the knowledge and skills required for careers in this field. Delivered on campus at the Moscow campus in Aberdeen, United States of America, the program is taught in English and takes 1 year to complete. Students study in a Full Time environment while preparing for future professional opportunities. The next intake starts on August 21, 2027.

About Certificate in Pre-Optometry

First steps toward a career in optometry.

The pre-optometry focus is an advising program to help students select courses and become well prepared for application to optometry school.

The steps toward your career as an optometrist begin by taking the required pre-optometry courses, completing your undergraduate degree, and gaining clinical experience. Course work will include chemistry, physics, biology, microbiology, organic chemistry, and possibly additional courses such as biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, statistics, and psychology. Common pre-optometry majors include biology, medical sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, and microbiology. You will also need to seek out volunteer opportunities to shadow optometrists and to observe in clinical settings.

Completing these steps are prerequisites for applying to optometry school for four additional years of specialized training.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Certificate in Pre-Optometry at University of Idaho

Entry Requirements

If you are a freshman or first-year student:

Undergraduate applicants who have no previous work at the post-secondary level must have at least a 2.5 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) from a secondary school. Students must also meet the criteria for admission to university-level study in their home country.

If you are a transfer student:

Undergraduate applicants who have attended a post-secondary institution and have completed at least 14 transferable semester credits at an accredited institution must present a minimum grade point average of 2.0 for all post-secondary work. For admission into the College of Engineering, transfer students must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.8. Other departments may have additional requirements. Students who have completed fewer than 14 transferable semester credits (post-secondary) must meet the freshman or first-year student requirements in addition to the transfer student requirements.
Please note: Students transferring to the University of Idaho from another U.S. college or university must notify their current international student advisor of their plans to transfer to the University of Idaho. Please refer to the SEVIS Transfer Process Form for more information about this topic.

English Requirements

PTEMin 48
IELTSMin 6
TOEFLMin 70

Career Opportunities after Completing Certificate in Pre-Optometry

This program prepares you to become an:

Optometrist (OD)

Tuition and Fee Information for Certificate in Pre-Optometry at University of Idaho

Application Fee 70

How to Apply for Certificate in Pre-Optometry at University of Idaho

Students must submit:

An international application for admission.
$70 application fee (nonrefundable).
Official secondary school transcripts identifying subjects taken, marks received and graduation date. If you have not yet graduated from your secondary school, a transcript showing all completed work may be accepted for early admission. External examination reports should be provided when applicable.
Official transcripts with subjects and marks received from any colleges or universities attended.
An official TOEFL score or equivalent.
Certified, literal translations of all credentials issued in any language other than English. To find more information about the University of Idaho’s policy on academic transcripts and certified translations see the Transcripts and Translations Document.
A statement of your activities if you've had a gap in education.

Please note: Students applying after the deadlines above or with incomplete files by these deadlines can still be considered for admission if they have their educational credentials evaluated by a professional evaluation service. There are five professional credential evaluation services from which the University of Idaho will accept evaluations.

Certificate in Pre-Optometry at University of Idaho

University of Idaho

United States of America, Aberdeen