How to Become a Pediatric Optometrist
An optometrist is a doctor who is trained to do refractions (prescribing of glasses and contact lenses) as well as to examine eyes for vision problems, defects and disease. Additional optometric training is an option for post-doctoral study in specialty areas of medicine such as sports medicine, geriatrics, neurology and pediatric optometry.
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Instructions
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Complete your initial studies from an accredited university. All optometry schools require undergraduate course work from accredited schools. Optometrists must complete four additional years of training to become a Doctor of Optometry (OD).
Specialists in Pediatric Optometry complete a minimum of one additional year of training in residency in an advanced clinical program. There are 19 accredited schools of optometry in the United States, and competition for entrance is intense, with only one in three applicants being accepted, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. -
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Verify that the optometry school you apply to is considered qualified. A list of accredited optometry schools and their specific requirements is available at the Eye Care Source website (see References). All optometrists must pass a comprehensive state exam and national examination which is given by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO), according to the American Optometric Association.
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Research the areas of pediatric optometry that interest you. Visit university websites like the New England College of Optometry and learn about individual pediatric optometric programs. Additional schooling for pediatric optometrists includes extensive clinical training and research in multiple areas of infant and childhood vision problems and diseases. Pediatric optometry is highly specialized and a good option for someone interested in community service and involvement. According to Kaplan University, one in five school-age children have prohibitive vision problems that affect learning.
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Complete your post-graduate work in a school that offers the type of experience and area of pediatric optometry you are pursuing. Residency includes working in different clinical settings. Depending on the school, there may be multiple opportunities to learn pediatric optometry in unique environments. Residents in the Pediatric Optometry Program at the University of Indiana School of Optometry train at three different clinic locations and treat children with low vision problems, work with pediatric contact lenses, evaluate multiple types of childhood vision problems and gain experience with pediatric ophthalmology (eye surgery).
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit ophthalmoscope image by JASON WINTER from Fotolia.com
