To become an optometrist in the US, one must complete an accredited optometry program, pass tests by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry and the state, and pay licensing fees. Additional state testing may be required, and a Doctor of Optometry degree is needed.
A person who wants to pursue a career as an optometrist must take several steps to obtain his or her optometrist license. In the US, he must take and successfully complete an accredited optometry program, apply for and pass tests provided by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) and the state in which he plans to practice, and pay all applicable licensing fees. While these are the basic requirements, laws and licensing requirements for optometry vary by location.
After graduating from college with a bachelor’s degree, a person interested in obtaining an optometrist license will need to apply for a four-year optometry program. The program must be at a school that has been properly accredited and approved by the state in which it intends to be licensed. These types of schools are usually accredited by the Council on Accreditation in Optometric Education (ACOE). To qualify for optometry school, he usually needs to have completed science, chemistry, math, physics, and biology courses while in college.
While in optometry school, the program will educate and train the student in eye diseases, visual screening, visual perception, ocular anatomy, and other areas related to eye care. In addition to eye health, this also includes educating them about vision correction in terms of eyeglasses and contact lenses. After completing the four-year program, he will have a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree.
Depending on the state or geographic area, additional testing under state or territory laws may be required to obtain an optometrist license. The graduate should check with the state or territory board of optometry to confirm whether this or any other mandatory state requirement is required. In the US, aspiring optometrists are required to take and pass a test conducted by the NBEO, regardless of each state board’s testing requirements. This is an exam that comes in three parts which are: Part I, or Basic Applied Science (ABS), Part II, Patient Assessment and Management (PAM), and Part III, also known as Clinical Skills (CSE).
After completing and passing the NBEO tests and any required state tests, he must apply for an optometrist license. When applying for a license fingerprint, criminal background checks, CPR certification, a current photo, and a copy of the optometry degree may also be required. In addition, there will be a fee that must be paid to receive the license. The fee amount varies by location. Some areas may also have additional fees, such as an application fee, that must be paid before receiving a license.
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