What IELTS score do you need as an optometrist in the UK?

Besides IELTS, you need at least three years' full-time optometry training at a level equivalent to a UK post-baccalaureate qualification, legal qualification to practise outside the UK, one year of unsupervised practice in the last ten years, registration with your home regulator where the profession is regulated, and qualification verification through Qualification Check.

The GOC lists fees of £130 for scrutiny, £455 for assessment and £205 for the interview (£790 in total), all non-refundable. Outcomes include entry to the College of Optometrists' Scheme for Registration, adaptation courses, or rejection.

The GOC says a new international application process is expected in early 2027, and the Scheme for Registration will close to new applicants once an ETR-compliant short qualification launches. The page does not state how long an IELTS result stays valid. Regulators change these rules, sometimes at short notice. Confirm the current scores on the GOC page before you book a test.