Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ)
Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ) was founded in 1996 with the support of other associations as such: the optometrists’ registration boards in Australia and New Zealand, the Heads of the Optometry Schools, Optometry Australia and the New Zealand Association of Optometrists
OCANZ roles and responsibilities:
· Permitting authorisations to recognised optometry schools, departments and academic units of Australian and New Zealand optometry schools prepares the applicants to be registered as an optometrists in Australia and New Zealand;
· Assessing overseas qualification who wish to pursue their career in Australia;
· Administering and conducting a competency tests for international applicants; and
· Assessing the optometry program for the purpose of accreditation against OCANZ standards.
The list of occupations assessed by OCANZ can be found below:
| Number | Occupation | ANZSCO Code | Assessing Authority |
| 1 | Optometrist | 251411 | OCANZ |
Skill Assessment Procedure for migration:
Overseas professionals that choose to pursue their career in Australia and migrate are needed to have their qualification and skills assessed with Australian standards. Applicants must meet the requirements and provide the required documents.
|
| YES | NO |
| Are you a registered professional in Australia? | You are qualified to practice in Australia. | You are not qualified to practice in Australia. |
| Have you received your qualification from an accredited University/College in Australia or New Zealand? | You are not required to be assessed. | You are required to have your qualification and skills assessed by the relevant authority. |
| Are you required to be submitted for assessment? | Documents required:
· Certificate or a degree, in original language and a certified copy of an official English translation, if applicable. · Certified copy of your identification. · Official transcript, in original language and a certified copy of an official English translation, if applicable. · Evidence of supervised teaching practice. · Evidence of membership, in the relevant association, if applicable. · Evidence of employment, from graduation to presernt. · Evidence of registration/ license, if applicable. · Assessment form, and · Evidence of English proficiency**. |
|
** English proficiency, applicant who has acquired his/her qualification from a non-English speaking country, is required to sit for IELTS examination. It is essential to achieve a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening).
The English proficiency test required for assessment is IELTs, however, other English examinations like TOFEL iBT may also be accepted by the relevant authoritiy.
Below is the table of score comparison between English Proficiency examinations:
| Listening | Speaking | Reading | Writing | Total Score | |||||
| IELTS | TOFEL iBT | IELTS | TOFEL iBT | IELTS | TOFEL iBT | IELTS | TOFEL iBT | IELTS | TOFEL iBT |
| 9.0 | 30 | 9.0 | 30 | 9.0 | 30 | 9.0 | 30 | 9.0 | 118-120 |
| 8.5 | 29 | 8.5 | 28-29 | 8.5 | 29 | 8.5 | 30 | 8.5 | 115-117 |
| 8.0 | 28 | 8.0 | 26-27 | 8.0 | 29 | 8.0 | 30 | 8.0 | 110-114 |
| 7.5 | 27 | 7.5 | 24-25 | 7.5 | 27-28 | 7.5 | 29 | 7.5 | 102-109 |
| 7.0 | 24-26 | 7.0 | 23 | 7.0 | 24-26 | 7.0 | 27-28 | 7.0 | 94-101 |
| 6.5 | 20-23 | 6.5 | 20-22 | 6.5 | 19-23 | 6.5 | 24-26 | 6.5 | 79-93 |
| 6.0 | 12-19 | 6.0 | 18-19 | 6.0 | 13-18 | 6.0 | 21-23 | 6.0 | 60-78 |
| 5.5 | 7-11 | 5.5 | 16-17 | 5.5 | 8-12 | 5.5 | 18-20 | 5.5 | 46-59 |
| 5.0 | 4-6 | 5.0 | 14-15 | 5.0 | 4-7 | 5.0 | 14-17 | 5.0 | 35-45 |
| 4.5 | 3 | 4.5 | 12-13 | 4.5 | 3 | 4.5 | 12-13 | 4.5 | 32-34 |
| <=4 | 0-2 | <=4 | 0-11 | <=4 | 0-2 | <=4 | 0-11 | <=4 | 0-31 |
Assessment of overseas qualification is a complex and time consuming procedure. It may take up to 8 weeks for the process to take place. After completion of the assessment a Letter of Assessment is received by the applicant. The received qualification is useful to assist:
· Migration officers to determine the suitability of the applicant for migration under the General Skilled Migration Categories;
· Registration as an Optometrist with OCANZ; and
· Eligibility for relevant jobs.
For further information as to fees and assessments please contact us.
Here is the list of links that may be useful:
Immigration