How to Become a Optometrist Doctor

Optical equipment

An optometrist doctor prescribes eyeglasses, contacts or other vision correction. He also diagnoses diseases that can be detected through the eye, such as glaucoma, diabetes and hypertension. Many people confuse an optometrist with an ophthalmologist. An optometrist holds a Doctor of Optometry degree, while an ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (MD) who treats eye diseases.

Instructions

1. You must fulfill 3 to 4 years of college-level requirements with excellent grades to be accepted to optometry school, which takes 4 years to complete. You must be proficient in math and science because the bulk of the coursework is in those two areas.

2. There are few schools of optometry; entrance requirements are competitive. In addition to having excellent grades, you may need other qualities, such as optometry-related work, to be accepted.

3. Prepare for the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) which you must pass to get into optometry school. Submit all applications early to allow time for processing. Make sure you follow admission guidelines for your particular school.

4. Apply for a state optometry license in the state you wish to practice after you graduate from optometry school. The field of optometry requires continuing education and state license renewal every few years.

Resources

• More info about how to become an optometrist
• Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
• American Optometric Association