Southern College of Optometry Admissions | Optometry School Requirements

COVID-19 Admissions Update

The SCO Admissions Office remains open during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are happy to answer any questions you may have. It’s best to send an email to [email protected], but if your situation is unique or complex, feel free to email us and include your phone number, and we will call you as soon as possible.

Along those lines, we thought it was important to tell candidates that we are accepting Pass/Fail grades for prerequisites taken during Winter, Spring and Summer 2020. We prefer a letter grade if the student has a choice, but again, Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit will be accepted. Once the situation regarding COVID-19 stabilizes, we will evaluate our policy for the Fall 2020 term.

At this time, we have made no changes to our deadlines for Fall 2021 candidates. OptomCAS is set to open the application cycle on June 29, and we will accept supplemental applications as soon as the candidate has an OptomCAS ID. Should this change, we will update our website immediately.

Please not that the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) will be administered again beginning in May 2020. Prometric Testing Centers will reduce capacity by 50 percent through June at its test centers to allow for more distance between test takers. There is an assumption that Prometric will extend the reduced capacity measures beyond June, which means at some point they will likely cancel 50 percent of all tests for July and August.

The only way for appointments to be scheduled or rescheduled is through Prometric’s website. The most recent information regarding the OAT will be posted here.

For current updates regarding all admissions processes, the best site to check is the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry. Stay safe!

Education is an Investment in Your Future.

You have chosen to apply to one of the nation's leading optometry schools—alma mater to 13 American Optometric Association Presidents and more than 80 years of graduating the best clinicians in the field.

The Admissions Office provides outstanding service throughout the admissions process: prompt and courteous responses to your questions; detailed literature that provides facts—not just fluff. We truly are committed to recruiting and retaining the best optometry school applicants.

Take time to learn about our admissions process and how you can become a stronger applicant.

Apply to Optometry School at SCO

SCO’s application process operates within OptomCAS, a centralized service that begins accepting applications June 29. Because of our rolling admissions infrastructure, SCO encourages interested students to apply early.

Applying to our optometry school requires numerous detailed steps in order to maintain structure and organization throughout the process. Before receiving consideration, the following must be in possession of SCO:

OptomCAS application and all supporting documents
SCO’s supplemental application (June 29–March 1)
Optometry Admission Test (OAT) Scores

For detailed information on each step of the process, please visit our How to Apply page.

How to Apply

Southern College of Optometry building in Memphis, TN

OptomCAS Application SCO Application OAT Registration

Highest board passage rates in the country

100% ULTIMATE BOARD PASSAGE RATE TWO OUT OF THE THE LAST THREE YEARS

Review our Academic Information

Enrollment at Southern College of Optometry requires at least 90 semester hours or 135 quarter hours at an accredited undergraduate institution. At least 30 semester hours must have been earned at a four-year college or university.

Additionally, candidates are required to complete all prerequisite courses before enrolling at the school. Note that you can apply before all prerequisite courses are completed. Those courses simply need to be completed before enrollment.

If your prerequisite courses include classes taken online or credits via AP/CLEP courses, we encourage you to contact the Admissions Office to further discuss your course history. We do accept specifc online and AP/CLEP courses with official documentation but may recommend or require additional coursework.

For more information on academic information, prerequisite courses and more, visit below.

Academic Information

Become a Competitive Optometry Applicant

Prospective SCO students submit applications on a rolling basis during the application cycle, so the importance of providing a detailed, competitive application is critical to be considered for admission to the program.

When our team reviews applications, we want to see how your experiences, education and knowledge stand apart from others in the highly competitive pool of candidates. In addition to providing all relevant and required documentation, the following factors may affect your candidacy:

Early Application
Optometric Experience
OAT Preparation
Professional Etiquette
Undergraduate Academic Performance

Note that the items listed above are not the only considerations for admission. SCO examines the entire scope of each prospective student’s application in order to best understand the strength and well-roundedness of each candidate.

For more information, visit our Become a Competitive Applicant page.

Become a Competitive Applicant