Veterinary and Optometry School Admissions in the USA (GRE, VMCAS, OAT, OptomCAS)

Two clinical doctorates, two centralized services

Veterinary medicine and optometry are separate health professions with separate admission systems, but both use centralized applications. The veterinary degree is the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), and US programs generally apply through VMCAS, run by the AAVMC. The optometry degree is the Doctor of Optometry (OD), and US programs use OptomCAS.

A centralized service lets you complete one application and direct it to multiple programs, which then layer on their own supplemental requirements. This guide explains how each route works without quoting score targets, prerequisite GPAs, fees, or deadlines as fixed facts — those are set by the testing bodies and individual schools and change. Verify the current details on the official pages linked below.

Both careers lead to licensed clinical practice after the doctoral degree; this guide focuses on admission to the degree program.

Veterinary school: VMCAS and the GRE question

VMCAS (the Veterinary Medical College Application Service) is the centralized application used by most US (and many international) veterinary programs. You complete coursework, experiences, essays, and evaluations once, and VMCAS distributes your verified application to your selected schools. The companion VMSAR directory (Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements) is the standard reference for each program's specific requirements.

Standardized testing for veterinary school is no longer uniform. The GRE is required by some programs, optional at others, and not required by many — practices have shifted in recent years. Because this varies widely, check each veterinary program's current testing policy in VMSAR or on the school's official site rather than assuming the GRE is required.

Veterinary admissions also weigh hands-on animal and veterinary experience heavily. Prerequisite coursework typically spans the sciences (biology, chemistry, often biochemistry, and more), with the exact list set by each school.

A veterinary application checklist

Veterinary applicants juggle academics, experience hours, and the centralized timeline. The items below are the common moving parts; confirm each program's specifics in VMSAR.

• Check each school's test policy (GRE required, optional, or not used)
• Complete prerequisite science coursework (requirements vary by school)
• Accumulate veterinary and animal experience hours valued by programs
• Enter coursework, experiences, and essays once in VMCAS
• Arrange evaluations/letters through VMCAS
• Select programs using the VMSAR directory and submit for verification
• Respond to any school-specific supplements and interview invitations

Optometry school: the OAT and OptomCAS

Optometry programs generally use the OAT, the Optometry Admission Test, as their standardized exam, and apply through OptomCAS. The OAT is administered by the American Dental Association's Department of Testing Services on behalf of optometry's governing body, ASCO (the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry), and is delivered by computer.

The OAT has four sections: a Survey of the Natural Sciences (biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry), Reading Comprehension, Physics, and Quantitative Reasoning. Some optometry programs that prefer the OAT will accept other tests (such as the GRE) in lieu of it, often within a recent time window — so check each program's policy.

OptomCAS (the Optometry Centralized Application Service) lets you file one application to participating schools and colleges of optometry. You upload coursework, experiences, essays, and have recommenders submit letters directly through the system.

Comparing the two paths and planning ahead

The clearest contrast is the test and portal: veterinary uses VMCAS (with GRE policies that vary by school) and emphasizes animal/veterinary experience; optometry uses the OAT and OptomCAS. Both reward early planning of prerequisite coursework and centralized-application timelines.

Many programs review on a rolling basis, so completing your application and any supplements promptly can help — though it never guarantees admission. Treat every fee, deadline, prerequisite, and test policy as something to confirm on the official AAVMC/VMSAR, OAT/ASCO, or OptomCAS pages and on each school's site for the current cycle.

• Veterinary: VMCAS application + VMSAR directory; GRE policy varies by school
• Optometry: OAT (four sections) + OptomCAS application
• Both: plan prerequisite sciences and experience early
• Both: confirm test acceptance windows and recipient routing officially
• Verify all fees, deadlines, and policies on official sources