The next practical examination of the European Diploma of Optometry will take place on the 8th, 9th and 10th of June 2006 in Cologne at the „Höhere Fachschule für Augenoptik“ (HFAK) The European Diploma is initiated by the European Council of Optomertry and Optics (ECOO). The German “Zentralverband der Augenoptiker” (ZVA) is responsible for the administration of the European Diploma. The European Diploma aims to guarantee a unified qualification in the training of optometrists. Contact ZVA, Alexanderstr. 25 a, D-40210 Düsseldorf, e-mail: info@zva.de, phone: (+49) 2 11 / 86 32 35 0, fax: (+49) 2 11 / 86 32 35 35 for further information.
The examinations of the diploma are divided into a written and a practical part. The practical examinations simulate the handling of patients disabled by certain problems with their vision, exams take place on the following dates; 8th of June 2006 part B (Management of Vision Problems), 9th of June 2006 part C (General Health and Ocular Abnormality) 10th of June 2006 part A (Visual Perception and Optical Technology). Only examinees who successfully participated in the written part of C are permitted to attend to the practical part.
The examination fee is 1.500 Euro, some national organisations grant subsidy to candidates of their own country.
The deadline for the registration for the practical examination is 10th March 2006. The written examination (Multiple-Choice-Test) will take place on 28th, 29th and 30th of September 2006 in St. Etiénne (France).