IOBP accepts any foreign optometrist or ophthalmologist from countries such as Nicaragua, Nigeria, China, India, Phillipines, UK, Costa Rica, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, ect. North American optometry is significantly advanced relative to the rest of the world where pre-opt is simply graduating high school. Optometrists in many countries perform as refracting opticians, and there is a question regarding established regulatory framework especially in foreign countries where optometry is relatively new. The same applicants would have to do at least 2 yrs of OD school in the States, but would earn the OD degree. There are concerns regarding IOBP, and the politics surrounding it. Compared to the US, the IOBP may be preferable to any foreigner claiming to be an eye doctor, although the US would likely not recognize the IOBP as qualification to sit for licensing exams.
Qualifications and education of applicants are assessed for placement into one of 2 streams. Until last year, most if not all, went through Bridging 1 which is now 6wks (was 4wks until last year); there is also Bridging 2 - 48wks. Completing IOBP they then get to sit for the CSAO exams. Most fail; last year only 43% passed on first try. They get to re-write, but only need to re-write the sections they fail, recently increased to a maximum of 3 re-writes. Most US/Can. grads pass on first try. This allows them a license to practice optometry in Canada alongside those who have the OD degree through an ABEO-approved OD school in North America. The IOBP has the capacity to accept 50-100 foreigners annually, and there is concern this, combined with an increasing number of Canadians returning from US schools (over 90 this year), will contribute to the growing OD oversupply problem especially in urban areas in Canada. Waterloo has also gradually increased its class size from 60 to 90 starting a few years ago.
This directly affects new grads who have to spend the time and money for 3 yrs pre-opt education then 4yrs OD school. And for example, TPA eligibility in Canada (which has been granted just in the last decade in most provinces), practicing OD's have to complete at least 100 hrs of TPA education; this takes about 2wks out of your practice. Yet the IOBP grad who comes from a country where they may not even have DPA's, let alone TPA's, may only have completed 6 wks in total. Yet they have been granted the same license to practice - can use the "doctor" title, just no degree.
There are a few detailed threads on IOBP on ODWire; use the Search "IOBP" feature. There is also an article on International Optometry in the recent issue of Rev. of Optometry.