By Abby Hoepner
One of the burning questions as applicants prepare for optometry school is along the lines of “What kind of experience do I need in the field, and how much?” And of course, there is no one right answer; no exact number of hours you need to hit. However, experience can be broken down into two categories, both of which can be very valuable: shadowing and work experience. Immersing yourself into the optometric community through shadowing and/or working in a clinic can provide foundational knowledge, connections for mentors and references, professional insight and, most of all, help you explore whether optometry is the right fit for you.
Make the Most of Shadowing
Optometry schools across the U.S. and Canada may or may not require or prefer a certain number of shadowing hours, and among those that do, the exact number can vary. A common goal is about 30 hours or more, but this will depend a lot on the individual and the school. If you are ever wondering what the current recommendations are for shadowing at a particular school, it’s always a good idea to check their website or reach out to admissions for more information.
Here are some things to keep in mind while shadowing:
- Just ask! Most doctors of optometry would be more than happy to let you shadow them—all you have to do is ask. If you ever don’t know where to start, try your own eye doctor! A great next step is a simple Google search for optometrists in the area or visit AOA’s Find a Doctor page.
- Start early, but don’t stress if you ever feel “behind.” The important thing is learning from the shadowing experience! It is never too early to start reaching out to clinics to shadow at, but it is also never too late, and all of your shadowing does not have to get done at once.
- Shadow in different practice modalities, and maybe even different career fields. Optometry is a diverse profession with many different settings of practice, and shadowing more than just one exposes you to a multitude of practice modalities and helps you better understand your interests and goals. Consider shadowing a variety of settings such as a private practice, a corporate practice, a VA hospital, and an OD/MD practice. Also consider the differences between practicing in large cities versus rural areas. You can learn a lot about your career aspirations by shadowing in other fields. During your application process, you will likely be asked “Why optometry?”, and maybe even “Why not another field in health care? Or another field helping people?” Reflect on these questions and use your shadowing as an opportunity to explore what makes this profession click for you.
- Ask thoughtful questions. Prepare for your job shadow by thinking about what you want to learn from it. For example, do you want to know more about the day-to-day schedule? The most enjoyable and most challenging aspects of the job? What drew this doctor to this mode of practice, specialty or even the career in general? Do you have any questions about school or residency? The more you shadow and learn about the field, the more questions will pop up.
- Take notes respectfully during your shadowing experience, i.e., use pen and paper! Bring a small notebook to jot down your questions, observations and key takeaways. Note any interesting cases or patient interactions you observe as well as brief
- Reflect on your experiences. Keep a living document of things you have learned from your experiences and general observations.
- Thank your host/mentor and keep in touch. Shadowing can be a great way to make long-lasting connections with optometrists who can serve as future mentors, references and professional contacts. Make sure to thank them personally for offering you their time and insight!
Remember, shadowing is ultimately for YOUR benefit! It is an opportunity to explore and learn more about a career. Tailor your shadowing to what you want to gain from it. The “correct” amount of shadowing hours is the amount that helps you feel most confident and prepared for applications, interviews and life in the field of optometry.
To Tech, or Not to Tech
While shadowing provides valuable observation and connections, some applicants seek a deeper, hands-on perspective on patient care and the business of optometry by working in a clinic. Roles such as technician, scribe, optician or even front-desk staff offer exposure to patient interactions and the daily operations of a practice. That said, this path isn’t the right fit for everyone, and that’s perfectly okay—you don’t need clinical work experience to be a competitive applicant or to succeed in optometry school. If you are interested, consider reaching out to local offices to apply. Remember to also complement work experience with shadowing in a variety of settings to explore different modalities and see how different doctors approach practice.
Here are a few different perspectives on technician experience to consider:
Student Perspectives on Clinical Work Experience
“I really enjoyed working in a clinic before optometry school because it gave me a lot of experience with patient care and some foundational knowledge, for example, about glasses and contact lenses, ocular conditions, optometric terminology, and billing and coding. I got to see how a practice is run, and what worked and didn’t work well in terms of staff management or patient care. Having real patient interactions also made me feel prepared to talk about my interest in optometry during interviews. I didn’t feel like I had any sort of advantage when it came time to study for exams or evaluate my skills in proficiencies, but I did learn a lot that I know I will carry with me into my career. “
- Third-year student
“Working in an optometry clinic helped me grow comfortable interacting with patients and navigating the exam lane, which at first may have felt unfamiliar. I became confident with obtaining imaging, learned the basics of optical work, and developed a sense of how a clinic operates. At the same time, however, I didn’t feel like it put me ahead of my classmates or provided an extensive knowledge of eye conditions. Most importantly, it solidified my desire to pursue optometry by allowing me to observe the doctors’ daily routines and build confidence in patient care.”
- Third-year student
“For me, shadowing was what helped me figure out if I was interested in optometry. Once I realized I enjoyed it, I started studying for the OAT [Optometry Admission Test], applied and kept shadowing throughout the process. In my first year, I’ll admit I sometimes worried when classmates already knew how to run certain tests and I didn’t. But I quickly realized the curriculum starts from the basics for everyone, and it’s designed to bring everyone up to speed together regardless of their background. Over time, I learned from peers who had more experience, built confidence and saw that not working in a clinic beforehand never held me back.”
- Third-year student
“I never worked in a clinic before school, and I don’t regret it at all. Growing up, I went to an optometrist regularly, so I already had a sense of what the profession was like. On top of that, I did research in an ophthalmology and neuroscience lab, which gave me a solid background in ocular anatomy, and I logged plenty of shadowing hours. Honestly, once you get to first year, everyone is pretty much starting from square one. If working in a clinic before school interests you, that’s great—but it’s just as valuable to explore other interests. I worked in different settings, like teaching dance and working with kids, and I loved it. What matters most is developing strong interpersonal skills. Any job that teaches you to connect with people, show empathy and work with those from different backgrounds will translate directly to interacting with patients.”
- Third-year student
Admissions Perspective on Clinical Work Experience
Any experience working in an optometric setting (tech, front desk, optical, scribe, contact lens trainer) is valuable and will be looked upon positively by an admissions committee. Work experience in any health care setting is also viewed favorably as it shows the committee that the applicant has an understanding of working in a clinical setting. Even experience working in a non-healthcare setting, such as retail or customer service, is important as this work experience demonstrates “people” skills, which are essential in optometry. With that being said, admissions committees also recognize that not all applicants may have the opportunity to work due to obligations outside of academics, such as athletics, family needs, involvement with faith organizations, and community service. These experiences can also provide interpersonal skills that are important for an applicant. Ultimately, admissions committees are looking for well-rounded applicants who have both the soft skills and academic aptitude to be successful in a rigorous graduate program and as a future optometrist.
“As someone who teaches first-year clinical procedures, I will say that tech experience can be a double-edged sword. These students are typically efficient due to their experience; however, we also often have to break bad habits that were created to make tech work-ups faster. I also can’t tell you how many times a student who has previously worked as a technician has said to me, “I never actually knew what that test was for” or “I had no idea what I was supposed to be looking for with that test,” so even those with a great deal of technician experience still have something to learn. “
- First-year procedures and admissions faculty member
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At the end of the day, there’s no single “right” path to take before starting optometry school. Some students gain confidence and skills by working in a clinic, while others focus on shadowing, research or jobs outside of health care. What matters most is exploring your interests, developing strong people skills, and confirming that optometry is the career you want. Make connections and find experiences that will make you feel most prepared for your future, from applications to school and beyond. If you are ever in doubt and don’t know where to start, reach out to a local clinic and start by shadowing—you may find a mentor and open the door to new opportunities.
