OCANZ Competency in Optometry Examination

Exam at a glance

Questions

144

Duration

360 minutes

Pass mark

not published

Sections

Clinical science: 144 MCQs with 4 options (120 scored), 3 hours · Diagnosis and management: 18 short-answer case questions, 3 hours · Skills station (12 skills) and patient examination, Melbourne

Exam type

Written and oral/practical

Language

English

Authority

OCANZ

Curriculum

Built from the question bank and updated automatically when new questions are added. 13 modules · 360 questions · Last updated: 30 October 2026

1. 01Ocular anatomy and physiology21 questions · 5.8 % of the bank

   Chapters

   • Foundations: the eye and the visual pathway
   • Foundations: the ear and the larynx
   • Foundations: paranasal sinuses and neck lymph nodes

   Sample question

   Sample question1 / 1 · 0 correct

   A 32-year-old man has vertical diplopia and a head tilt after a cycling accident. The diplopia is most troublesome when he looks down to read. Which nerve supplies the muscle that mainly depresses the adducted eye?

   AOculomotor nerveBTrochlear nerveCAbducens nerveDOphthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve

   Keys: 1–5 or A–E to choose, Enter to check and continue, F to mark.

   MarkCheck answer
2. 02Anterior eye disease and ocular surface33 questions · 9.2 % of the bank

   Sample question

   Sample question1 / 1 · 0 correct

   Which part of the tear film, secreted mainly by the meibomian glands, is primarily responsible for slowing evaporation of the aqueous layer?

   AThe mucin layer next to the epitheliumBThe middle aqueous layerCThe superficial lipid layerDThe epithelial glycocalyx

   Keys: 1–5 or A–E to choose, Enter to check and continue, F to mark.

   MarkCheck answer
3. 03Binocular vision and ocular motility24 questions · 6.7 % of the bank

   Chapters

   • Foundations: spinal cord tracts and the cranial nerves
   • Foundations: the circle of Willis and intracranial haemorrhage

   Sample question

   Sample question1 / 1 · 0 correct

   During a unilateral cover test at 6 m, the examiner covers the right eye and the left eye moves outward (temporally) to take up fixation. What is the finding?

   ARight exotropiaBLeft esophoriaCRight esophoriaDLeft esotropia

   Keys: 1–5 or A–E to choose, Enter to check and continue, F to mark.

   MarkCheck answer
4. 04Contact lenses and myopia control24 questions · 6.7 % of the bank

   Sample question

   Sample question1 / 1 · 0 correct

   A 22-year-old wears monthly silicone hydrogel lenses and often sleeps in them. She presents with a painful, red, photophobic right eye that has worsened over 24 hours. Slit lamp examination shows a 2.5 mm central stromal infiltrate with an overlying epithelial defect, mucopurulent discharge and a 1 mm hypopyon. Which organism is the most likely cause?

   AStaphylococcus epidermidisBPseudomonas aeruginosaCAcanthamoeba speciesDFusarium species

   Keys: 1–5 or A–E to choose, Enter to check and continue, F to mark.

   MarkCheck answer
5. 05Glaucoma29 questions · 8.1 % of the bank

   Sample question

   Sample question1 / 1 · 0 correct

   A 66-year-old man has IOP of 25 mmHg and an inferotemporal neuroretinal rim notch in his left eye. Which visual field pattern is most characteristic of early glaucomatous damage?

   ABitemporal hemianopia respecting the vertical midlineBDense central scotoma with preserved peripheral fieldCHomonymous inferior quadrantanopiaDArcuate defect or nasal step respecting the horizontal midline

   Keys: 1–5 or A–E to choose, Enter to check and continue, F to mark.

   MarkCheck answer
6. 06Neuro-ophthalmology and visual fields27 questions · 7.5 % of the bank

   Chapters

   • Foundations: the eye and the visual pathway
   • Foundations: the ear and the larynx
   • Foundations: paranasal sinuses and neck lymph nodes
   • Foundations: spinal cord tracts and the cranial nerves
   • Foundations: the circle of Willis and intracranial haemorrhage
7. 07Geometrical and physiological optics25 questions · 6.9 % of the bank
8. 08Paediatric, older adult and low vision care24 questions · 6.7 % of the bank
9. 09Ocular pharmacology and therapeutics48 questions · 13.3 % of the bank
10. 10Professional practice, law, ethics and referral24 questions · 6.7 % of the bank
11. 11Refraction and spectacle prescribing25 questions · 6.9 % of the bank
12. 12Retina, macula and vitreous31 questions · 8.6 % of the bank
13. 13Systemic disease and the eye25 questions · 6.9 % of the bank

What you get

• Question bank with a detailed explanation for every answer
• Timed mock exams in the real exam format, with score report by topic
• Personal study plan up to your exam date and review of weak topics
• AI tutor that explains any question in plain words
• One account for the app (iPhone, iPad) and the browser
• AI oral examiner for practising the oral or practical part

From registration to licence

The usual steps with OCANZ. Details can change; check the current rules with OCANZ before you register.

1. Check eligibility and collect your documents (degree, experience, good standing).
2. Create an account with OCANZ and submit the application.
3. Receive the exam eligibility and book a date with the test centre.
4. Sit the exam. Results usually come within days.
5. After passing: complete licensing (for example primary source verification) and receive your licence.

Frequently asked questions