Certification, Licensing, and Special Requirements
Certification or Licensing
The American Board of Optometry provides voluntary certification to optometrists. Contact the board for more information.
Before individuals can practice as optometrists, they must secure a license in the state in which they wish to practice. Licensing applicants must have graduated from an accredited school or college of optometry and pass a written test administered by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry and a separate clinical exam. Examinations generally cover the following subjects: ocular anatomy, ocular pathology (disease), optometric methods, theoretical optometry, psychological optics, physical and geometrical optics, physiological optics, physiology, and optometrical mechanics. In all states as well as the District of Columbia, optometrists must earn continuing education credits in optometry to renew their licenses.
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