The Orlando VA Medical Center participates in the Optometric Residency Matching Service (ORMS).  Applicants therefore must submit the materials requested by ORMS in order to be considered for the residency.  In order to be fully considered for an interview, the following documents must be obtained by the Orlando VAMC Optometry Residency Program Supervisor: copy of the ORMS registration, curriculum vitae, National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) scores, optometry school transcripts, three letters of recommendation (at least 2 from clinical faculty) and a letter of intent.

The minimum specific requirements the applicant must meet for residency consideration include the following:

1. The applicant will have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or equivalent in Optometry school prior to being considered for an interview for the residency.
2. The applicant must have earned an OD degree or will have earned such a degree from an accredited School or College of Optometry prior to July 1.
3. The applicant must successfully complete Parts I, and II of the NBEO examinations as well as have passed the TMOD section of Part II of the NBEO examination.
4. The applicant is strongly encouraged to successfully complete Part III of the NBEO examination by the start of the residency in order to be eligible to have an Optometry license by July 1.
5. Residency applicants will be evaluated and chosen without regard to sex, race, religion, age, national origin or handicap.
6. Residency applicants must be citizens of the United States to be considered for a funded residency position.
7. Applicants meeting the minimum criteria mentioned above will be asked to visit the facility and interview for the residency position.  Under special circumstances, a telephone interview may be conducted at the discretion of the residency program supervisor.

The selected resident is required to obtain Optometric licensure in any state prior to July 1.  Should the resident fail to do so, the optometry resident will still be able to begin and complete the program.  The unlicensed optometry resident will be allowed to perform ocular examination of patients and formulate diagnosis and treatment plans.  The attending doctor will verify clinical findings by physically examining the same patient and assessing the accuracy of the diagnosis and treatment plan. The unlicensed optometry resident will be allowed to rotate outside of the VA clinic in the external rotation clinics at the discretion of the residency program supervisor.

After all of the minimally acceptable candidates have been interviewed and the supporting materials reviewed, the full-time staff optometrists collectively rank the candidates and send the rankings to the ORMS office by the matching deadline.  Once the Orlando VAMC Optometry Residency Program Supervisor has been notified as to the outcome of the matching process, the matched applicant will be contacted.  A letter of appointment along with other VA mandatory forms will be sent to the matched applicant.  The letter confirms the applicant’s acceptance of the position and provides information regarding the duration of the program, hours of attendance, compensation, health insurance availability and benefits as well as other information from the Orlando VAMC’s Human Resources Office.