Career Change to Optometry - Any advice ?

redstar

I have over 20yrs scientific/engineering background, mainly in IT, but would like to change career. Optometry looks v. interesting but only one college, DIT, offers a 4yr full-time course.

What are the job prospects for Optometrists in Ireland ? I don't see any optometrists jobs listed on the usual online jobs web-sites.

Am I too old to even consider this (45) ? I have many years work and life experience, so would expect to progress a bit quicker than if starting out from school.

Any advice much appreciated !

paperclip2

Hi OP,
Some sites that might point you in the right direction:

Its not gospel but might help: Career Directions, http://http://www.careerdirections.ie/CD/DBAllCareerFrame.jsp?id=175

Uk site but still useful stuff: Prospects, http://http://www.prospects.ac.uk/downloads/occprofiles/profile_pdfs/C3_Optometrist.pdf

More info, portal site: Careers Portal,
http://http://www.careersportal.ie/careers/detail.php?userid=0&token=b4b147bc522828731f1a016bfa72c073&sector_id=15&courses_tbl1Page=3&job_id=321

As regards recognition of prior learning/ experience most colleges have their own policies. The best thing to do is to contact the admissions dept or the course co-ordinator of the relevant course and ask what their particular policy is. Usually it depends on how much of the course you have already covered in previous life/ training. Also with a healthcare profession exemption policies tend to be quite stringent and rightly so.

The DIT course is the only one in the republic but there is also one in the Uni Of Ulster in Coleraine.
http://http://prospectus.ulster.ac.uk/course/?id=6521