Skills Assessment Authority
OCANZ
Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand
OCANZ assesses optometrists for Australian skilled migration through the Competency in Optometry Examination, an examination pathway rather than a documentary assessment. Visa Plan Lawyers prepares OCANZ applications and advises on eligibility and the examination requirements.
Assessment Fees
$868 to $4,722 AUD by component
Competency in Optometry Examination fees are per component: eligibility assessment $868; written examination $3,534 for both papers or $1,858 for one; skills examination $2,863; patient examination $4,722; cultural safety training $291.
Fees as published by OCANZ, checked September 2026
Processing Time
Form 2 eligibility review about 4 weeks; Form 3 about 8 weeks; examinations scheduled separately in Melbourne.
Official Website
www.ocanz.orgOccupations assessed by OCANZ
Optometrist (ANZSCO 251411), the primary occupation assessed by OCANZ.
Key Occupations
Optometrist
Always verify the designated assessing authority for your specific ANZSCO occupation code on the Department of Home Affairs skilled occupation list before applying.
Assessment requirements
Examination pathway, not documentary
This is an examination pathway rather than a documentary assessment. The skills assessment is obtained by passing the Competency in Optometry Examination conducted by OCANZ.
Examination components
The examination has written and clinical components. The clinical examination splits into a skills examination and a patient examination, and there is mandatory cultural safety training in addition to the examinations.
Eligibility and degree listing
Eligibility requires a four-year degree, or a three-year degree plus one year of supervised practice. The degree must be listed in the OCANZ appendix of recognised qualifications.
Validity
The skills assessment is valid for three years from the date of issue. Applicants should lodge their visa application within that period.
How OCANZ assesses
OCANZ does not require evidence of English language competency to sit the Competency in Optometry Examination, although the OCANZ examination FAQs note that Australian and New Zealand registration requirements indicate the standard expected. Optometrists already registered with the Optometry Board of Australia do not need a skills assessment, according to the OCANZ migration page. Fees for each component are listed on the overseas optometrists page.
The written examination is delivered online under remote proctoring from the candidate’s home country, with 2027 sittings scheduled for 1 to 2 March and 2 to 3 August, while the clinical examination is held at the Australian College of Optometry in Melbourne, according to the overseas optometrists page. The FAQs confirm the clinical examination is always held in Melbourne, and that written results are emailed within 6 to 8 weeks and clinical results within 5 weeks.
Candidates may resit the written examination without limit; a candidate who passes one of the two papers at the first attempt may retake only the failed paper once, after which both papers must be resat, per the FAQs. The clinical examination must be passed within three years of passing the written examination, and there is no time limit on sitting once OCANZ approves eligibility, as stated in the same FAQs.
Visa Plan Lawyers and OCANZ assessments
Optometrists trained outside Australia and New Zealand are assessed by examination, with an eligibility review beforehand. Visa Plan Lawyers plans the visa timeline around the OCANZ examination schedule and advises on registration with the Optometry Board afterwards.
Reviewed by Visa Plan Lawyers · Last updated: September 2026 · Assessment fee and processing time information is approximate and subject to change. Always verify current fees and processing times directly with OCANZ at https://www.ocanz.org before applying. This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Contact Visa Plan for advice specific to your circumstances.