These two highly specialised micro-credentials are 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.

OPTMM410 Clinical Optometry -

This micro-credential is part of the UWA Doctor of Optometry Micro-credential Bridging Program. 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. 
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.

OPTMM411 Pharmacology and Immunology for Optometry - 

This micro-credential concerns the role and activity of microbes as agents of infectious disease, the way in which the host's
immune response deals with infectious agents and how it can be exploited to elicit protection against these agents, investigates disease transmission and spread, and considers applications of a knowledge of infectious disease and immunology, including identification and diagnosis. The micro-credential introduces essential knowledge and principles in the fields of infectious disease, immunology, and epidemiology, and provides a foundation for more advanced studies in these disciplines.
In addition, students will cover physiology of pain, ion channels and action potential, general anaesthesia, topical anaesthics, ophthalmic medicine, sensory supply, formulation science and some practical points around the prescription of ophthalmic therapeutics.

• 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
12 November 2025 - 28 February 2026

OPTMM411 Pharmacology and Immunology for Optometry - TBC

 Applications close

OPTMM410 - applications close 21 November 2025

Duration

OPTMM410 - 6 weeks

Effort

Each micro-credential course requires 150 hours total effort

Academic Lead

Assoc. Professor Khyber Alam

Cost

OPTMM410 $5,500 inc. GST

Critical information summary

Critical Information Summary - OPTMM410 (PDF 244KB)

 

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. 

OPTMM411 Pharmacology and Immunology for
Optometry

This micro-credential concerns the role and activity of microbes as agents of infectious disease, the way in which the host's immune response deals with infectious agents and how it can be exploited to elicit protection against these agents, investigates disease transmission and spread, and considers applications of a knowledge of infectious disease and immunology, including identification and diagnosis. The micro-credential introduces essential knowledge and principles in the fields of infectious disease, immunology, and epidemiology, and provides a foundation for more advanced studies in
these disciplines.

What's next after this course?

Students applying for the UWA Doctor of Optometry who have appropriate pre-requisites and who successfully complete OPTMM410 Clinical Optometry as well as OPTMM411 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.