A person who wishes to work as an optometrist must complete several steps in order to obtain his or her optometrist license. He must complete an accredited optometry program in the United States, apply for and pass testing administered the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) and the state in which he plans to practice, and pay all applicable licensing fees. Despite the fact that these are the minimum requirements, optometry licensing laws and requirements vary location.
A person interested in becoming an optometrist must apply for a four-year optometry program after graduating from college with a bachelor’s degree. The program must be completed at a school that has been accredited and approved the state in which he wishes to be licensed. The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education usually accredits these types of schools (ACOE). He usually needs to have completed science, chemistry, math, physics, and biology courses in college to be eligible for optometry school.
The student will be educated and trained on ocular diseases, vision screening, vision perception, ocular anatomy, and other aspects of eye care while in optometry school. This includes educating them on vision correction options such as glasses and contact lenses, in addition to eye health. He will have earned a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree after completing the four-year program.
Additional testing on state or territorial laws may be required to obtain an optometrist license, depending on the state or geographic area. The graduate should check with the optometry board in their state or territory to see if this or any other state-mandated requirements are required. In the United States, aspiring optometrists must take and pass a test administered the National Board of Examiners for Optometry, regardless of the state board’s testing requirements. Part I, also known as Applied Basic Science (ABS), Part II, Patient Assessment and Management (PAM), and Part III, also known as Clinical Skills, are the three parts of this exam (CSE).
He must apply for an optometrist license after passing the NBEO tests and any required state testing. Criminal background checks, CPR certification, a current photo, and a copy of the optometry degree may be required when applying for a license. Additionally, there will be a fee to pay in order to obtain the license. The fee amount will vary depending on the location. Additional fees, such as an application fee, may apply in some areas and must be paid before the license is issued.