Optometry Education
Dynamic, Comprehensive, Rigorous.
Undergraduate Coursework and Performance
Doctors of optometry receive undergraduate education in order to be admitted into an accredited college of optometry, which in most cases involves a four-year undergraduate degree. The majority of students who apply to optometry school earn their bachelor degree in a science-related subject. Although undergraduate courses required by schools of optometry vary from school to school, the basic requirements are similar to those required by colleges for other health care professionals. These curricula include courses related to biology, anatomy, chemistry, physics and mathematics.Keep in mind that most successful applicants to optometry schools also have a strong cumulative grade point average (GPA). The average GPA for the accepted applicant is between 3.5- 3.8/4.0.
Optometry School
Following undergraduate studies, students begin a four year focused education in optometry school. There are 17 accredited colleges of optometry in the United States, most affiliated with large universities. While Wisconsin does not have a college of optometry, the majority of licensed doctors in our state are graduates of the Illinois College of Optometry.
Graduates from optometry school are awarded a Doctor of Optometry Degree (O.D.). The OD degree program includes classroom and clinical training in geometric, physical, physiological and ophthalmic optics; ocular anatomy, ocular disease, ocular myotology, ocular pharmacology, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of the visual system; color, form, space, movement and vision perception; design and modification of the visual environment, vision performance and screening.
Since optometrists are members of the primary health care team, optometric education also includes a thorough study of human anatomy, pharmacology, general pathology, sensory and perceptual psychology; biochemistry, statistics and epidemiology; as well as many hours on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions of health and disease of the human eye.
After graduating from an accredited school or college of optometry, optometrists must successfully complete a rigorous three-part national board examination and, in Wisconsin, a jurisprudence exam to become licensed to practice.
Residency Training
Following graduation from an accredited college of optometry, doctors of optometry may choose to embark on a number of residency/externship programs offered across the country and abroad. These programs provide additional education, training and experience for specialized areas of practice in optometry.
Education Required for Relicensure
Doctors of optometry in Wisconsin are required to attend 30 hours of education every two years in order to maintain their license to practice. The licensing biennium runs from December 15 of the odd numbered year through December 14 of the next odd numbered year. All doctors of optometry, whether they are TPA certified, just DPA licensed or neither must obtain these 30 hours in order to be relicensed. The education attended must be approved either by the Wisconsin Optometry Examining Board (OEB) or by COPE (Council on Optometric Practitioner Education) or be sponsored by anaccredited college of optometry or another state association.
Doctors obtaining a license during the first year of the biennium, must obtain 15 hours of approved education. For example if you obtain your license on June 30th of the first year of a biennium (even year) you would need 15 hours of education. Doctors who are licensed in the second year of the current biennium are not required to earn continuing education.
Doctors can take up to 10 hours total each biennium in the following categories: Contact Lens, Low Vision, Functional Vision/Pediatric Vision, General Optometry, Practice Management and Ethical/Jurisprudence. These categories are highlighted in yellow on the listing of COPE approval categories that follows.
Doctors can take up to 10 hours of education by alternative delivery methods including internet, correspondence courses and magazine courses, provided they are approved by either the OEB or COPE.
2 hours of education will be required for the 2020-2021 biennium on the topic of responsible prescribing of controlled substances. This requirement is similar to other professions who’s prescriptive authority includes controlled substances/opioids.
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services audits approximately 10% of licensees each education cycle to ensure they have taken the required education.
