UWA PLUS
Doctor of Optometry Bridging Program -Recognition for Prior Learning
Student learning will be consolidated through team-based learning. Also, students will gain skills in simple history-taking and patient examination. They will also be introduced to other competencies defined by the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ) including diagnosis, patient management; recording of clinical data and an introduction to the practical application of ophthalmic dispensing principles. They will explore legal and ethical issues drawn from the problem-based learning cases and gain knowledge and skills in professional practice associated with the cases. Finally, they will consider the public and population health implications in identifying and managing the conditions presented in the cases.
Upon successful completion, you’ll receive:- 6 PD Points (per micro-credential) - can be converted to academic credit
- A Certificate of Achievement
- A UWA Plus Professional Development Transcript, listing all successfully completed micro-credentials
- Delivery mode
- Online
- Dates
- OPTMM410 Clinical Optometry
09 November 2026 - 28 February 2027
Registrations are currently open.
Duration- 6 weeks
- Effort
- 150 hours total effort
- Academic Lead
- Lisa Jansen
- Cost
- OPTMM410 $5,500 inc. GST
- Critical information summary
- Critical Information Summary - OPTMM410 (PDF 244KB)
What you'll learn
OPTMM410 Clinical Optometry:
Across 6 weeks you will learn:
- Patient history taking
- Patient examination techniques
- Optometric and opththalmic investigations in the context of the management of common optometric conditions
Who should study this course?
Highly specialised micro-credentials designed as part of UWA Doctor of Optometry Micro-credentials Bridging Program for those who have received an offer of a place into the Doctor of Optometry (applicable only to students who have appropriate pre-requisites).
The UWA Doctor of Optometry Micro-credentials Bridging Program includes two micro-credentials OPTMM410 Clinical Optometry and, if required, OPTMM411 Pharmacology and Immunology for Optometry.
Why study these courses?
Doctor of Optometry students who have appropriate pre-requisites and who successfully complete this micro-credential as well as Pharmacology and Immunology for Optometry (if required), are able to apply for up to 48 credit points of advanced standing.
Students who (a) have completed a bachelor's degree in Vision Science or equivalent as recognised by UWA; and (b) have completed the UWA Doctor of Optometry Micro-credentials Bridging Program may apply for credit of prior learning up to a value of 48 points for relevant units in year 1 of the Doctor of Optometry Course.
How does it work?
OPTMM410 Clinical Optometry
The core components of this micro-credential are biomedical sciences, clinical skills, foundation of optometry and analysis of the literature. In this micro-credential, students will gain a foundation in the physical and biomedical sciences underpinning optometric practice. Students will engage in problem-based learning cases drawn from simple and common optometric conditions particularly those associated with developmental and refractive orders of vision. Some cases in ocular disease and therapy and systemic disorders of vision will also be covered. The physical and biomedical sciences will include anatomy, physiology, optical physics, pharmacology, pathology, immunology and microbiology.
What's next after this course?
- Students applying for the UWA Doctor of Optometry who have appropriate pre-requisites and who successfully complete this micro-credential as well as Pharmacology and Immunology for Optometry (if required), are able to apply for up to 48 credit points of advanced standing and entry into first trimester of second year of the Doctor of Optometry.