Optometrist - Therapeutic & Glaucoma
Pennsylvania Licensure Requirements
Doctoral of Optometry
2 Examinations
No Experience Requirement
3 Hours of Continuing Education
25.00 Initial Fee
135.00 Renewal Fee
An optometrist who is licensed to treat eye diseases and write prescriptions as needed, in addition to ascertaining the need for visual corrections such as glasses, contact lenses and refractive surgery.
Degree Requirement:
Doctor of Optometry
An applicant must graduate from an accredited optometric educational institution. An applicant from an unaccredited optometric educational institution must submit their credentials to an accredited optometric educational institution, make up any deficiencies (if applicable), and obtain certification from the accredited optometric educational institution that the requirement for graduation from an accredited school has been met.
Examination Requirement:
2 Examinations
Applicant must receive a passing grade on the National Board of Examiners in Optometry exam and the Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease exam.
Experience:
No Experience Requirement
Continuing Education:
3 Hours (for initial licensure)
Applicants must complete 3 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting for initial licensure.
30 Hours (when renewing license)
An applicant for biennial license renewal or reactivation of an Optometrist-Therapeutics and Glaucoma license is required to complete, during the 2 years preceding renewal or reactivation, a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education, which includes 4 hours in glaucoma courses, 2 hours must be in therapeutics, and 2 hours in child abuse recognition and reporting.
Initial Licensing Fee:
$25.00
Licensure Renewal Fee:
$135.00
Biennial renewal of license.
Licensure by Reciprocity & Licensure by Act 41:
To apply for licensure by reciprocity, the applicant must have practiced optometry for at least 4 years continuously in the state of licensure.
Act 41 allows for portability of out-of-state professional licensees coming to work in Pennsylvania. Act 41 does this by granting all boards and commissions within the Commonwealth the authority to endorse licensees from other states, territories or jurisdictions (with substantially equivalent licensing requirements) who are active, in good standing and without discipline against their license or criminal conviction.