How Much Schooling Do I Need to Be an Optometrist?

A career in optometry requires about eight years of higher education.

Optometry is the most visible branch of medicine concerning the health of the human eye. Most people visit an optometrist from time to time to make sure their eyes are in working order, and to upgrade their prescriptions for eyeglasses or contact lenses. Optometrists are doctors, and possess a highly specific skill set. Like all medical professions, a career in optometry requires an extensive education up front, including undergraduate and graduate schooling, with options for postgraduate residency work, and continuing education credits over the course of an optometrist's career.

Undergraduate Degree

All aspiring optometrists in the United States must complete their high school educations and go on to acquire undergraduate degrees in college. Students intending to go into optometry need to have a strong backgrounds in the sciences, mathematics, and English in order to be competitive candidates for optometry programs. Physics, chemistry, and biology are ideal areas of study to major in, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Doctor of Optometry Degree

To practice optometry in the United States, students need to earn a doctorate in optometry from a school of optometry accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are only 20 such schools in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and admission is very competitive, with between 30 and 40 percent of applicants gaining admission. As a part of the application process, students must first pass the Optometry Admissions Test, as well as demonstrate a strong GPA and a commitment to the field of optometry.

The doctor of optometry program is a four-year graduate track. Upon gaining admission, students must successfully complete their doctorate with coursework and study where they will learn how to evaluate the human eye for health and function, and how to operate the specialized equipment that fills every optometrist's office. They will also take general medical courses such as anatomy, pathology, public health, and pharmacology, and courses relating to running a practice.

Clinical Residency

Upon graduating with an OD, optometrists may choose to immediately apply for licensure and enter into practice. Another option is for optometrists to pursue postgraduate study as clinical residents, where they can develop areas of advanced specialization in their field. These specialty skills can make an optometry career more lucrative in the long run, and help to make optometrists even more knowledgeable in the field.

Licensure and Continuing Education

All optometrists must be licensed in order to practice. Licensure requires passing an accredited board or clinical exam, and can typically be taken in the course of doctoral study. Some states require additional examinations in order for the candidate to demonstrate awareness of relevant state laws.

All states require periodic license renewal as well as continuing education credits. These continuing education classes serve to refresh optometrists' core skills and ethics, while also exposing them to advances in the field, emerging issues, and new methods and technologies.

References

• Ferris State University: Doctor of Optometry
• BLS: Optometrists