OCANZ COE
OCANZ Competency in Optometry Examination
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Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
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ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
OCANZ - the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand - describes itself as the independent accreditation authority responsible for assessing optometry education programs and qualifications in Australia and New Zealand, with a mission of upholding public safety by ensuring optometrists entering the profession are competent, well-trained and equipped to deliver high standards of care. Its examination pathway is split on the OCANZ site between Australian/New Zealand optometrists and overseas optometrists, so the route a candidate takes depends on where they qualified. The published 2027 schedule shows two written examination series (1–2 March 2027 and 2–3 August 2027) and two clinical examination sessions (weeks of 21 June 2027 and 28 June 2027), which indicates the assessment has a knowledge component and a separate clinical component. OCANZ also publishes Professional Competency Standards, and these are the most sensible framework for structuring preparation. A practical study plan therefore combines competency-based revision of optometric knowledge and clinical reasoning with supervised practice of clinical procedures and communication. Candidates should confirm their own eligibility category, application windows and fees directly with OCANZ, since dates and closing dates are announced separately and some sessions close early or when sold out.
What you'll study
About OCANZ COE preparation
What is the OCANZ examination for?
OCANZ is the independent accreditation authority assessing optometry education programs and qualifications in Australia and New Zealand. Its examination pages are organised into a pathway for Australian/New Zealand optometrists and a separate pathway for overseas optometrists, so check which stream applies to your qualification before planning.
What is the exam format?
The published 2027 schedule lists a written examination and a separate clinical examination, each offered in two sittings. Beyond that split, OCANZ does not state item counts, station numbers or paper structure on the pages summarised here, so confirm the detailed format with OCANZ directly rather than relying on second-hand descriptions.
When are the 2027 sittings?
The written examination runs 1–2 March 2027 and 2–3 August 2027. The clinical examination runs in the week of 21 June 2027 and the week of 28 June 2027. These are announced future dates, so verify them and any later changes on the OCANZ site before booking travel.
What are the application deadlines?
For the March 2027 written series, applications close Thursday 4 February 2027. For the August 2027 series, applications open Thursday 1 July 2027 and close Friday 2 July 2027. The clinical examination closing date is Thursday 6 May 2027, or earlier if sessions sell out.
How hard is it, and what trips candidates up?
The clinical examination is usually where preparation gaps show: candidates can recite facts but hesitate on technique, record-keeping or explaining findings to a patient. Build fluency in routine procedures and in talking through differentials aloud. For the written component, weak spots are usually ocular therapeutics, systemic disease links and paediatric or low-vision reasoning.
Should I study for the written or clinical exam first?
Do the written preparation first and let it drive clinical revision. Work through the OCANZ Professional Competency Standards domain by domain, then convert each topic into a practical skill you rehearse: history taking, slit lamp technique, fundus examination, refraction and patient communication. That order stops clinical practice becoming unguided repetition.
Can I retake the examination?
OCANZ does not state a retake policy on the pages summarised here, and the two written series and two clinical sessions per year suggest multiple opportunities. Confirm eligibility, waiting periods and any limits on attempts with OCANZ before you rely on a resit.
How much does it cost?
Fees are not published in the material summarised here. OCANZ maintains a Fees and Appeals page under its Examination section, which is the authoritative place to check current amounts, refund conditions and the appeals process. Do not budget from figures quoted in forums or older documents.
How long should I allow for preparation?
A workable approach is several months of part-time study, front-loaded on the competency standards and weaker clinical areas, with the final weeks reserved for timed practice and full procedural rehearsals. Candidates returning to study after a break, or qualifying overseas, usually need longer to adjust to Australian and New Zealand practice expectations.
Is this page affiliated with OCANZ?
No. This is independent study material and is not endorsed by or affiliated with the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand. Always treat the official OCANZ website as the authoritative source for dates, fees, eligibility and examination requirements, and verify anything here against it.