Optometry Education
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Undergraduate Coursework and Performance
Doctors of optometry receive undergraduate education in order to be admitted into an accredited college of optometry, which requires a four-year undergraduate degree. The majority of students who apply to optometry school complete their Bachelors 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. Successful applicants to optometry schools also have a strong cumulative grade point average (GPA). The average GPA for the accepted applicant is between approximatel 3.5 and 3.8/4.0.
Optometry School
Following undergraduate studies, students begin a four year focused education in a college of optometry. There are 23 accredited colleges of optometry in North America, and most are 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; and 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 graduation 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 or 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. The current biennium started December 15, 2023 and ends December 14, 2025.
Basic Continuing Education Requirements
The education attended must be approved either by the Wisconsin Optometry Examining Board (OEB) or by the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE). Additional requirements for continuing education include:
- 20 of the required 30 hours shall relate to ocular health, conditions, or disease management, or the removal of superficial foreign bodies from an eye or from an appendage to the eye.
- 10 of the 30 hours can be on other approved topics including practice management, functional vision, contact lenses, jurisprudence, low vision and general optometry.
- 20 of the 30 hours must be completed by attending programs live and in-person. Up to 10 hours may be earned by attending approved online courses.
- 1 hour of education on the topic of responsible prescribing of controlled substances is required for those doctors holding a current DEA license during the 2024-2025 biennium.
Online Continuing Education
In Wisconsin, our understanding is that 20 of the 30 required hours must be completed by attending programs onsite and in-person as stated in Opt 8 of the statutes. Courses may be approved as a live webinar, but that is different than in person CE. Live and on-demand webinars would both count towards the 10 hours of continuing education that may be earned online.
Renewals for New Licensees
Doctors obtaining a license during the first year of the biennium (12/15/2023 – 12/14/2024), must obtain 15 hours of approved education. Doctors who are licensed in the second year of the current biennium (12/15/2024 or after) are not required to earn continuing education. Regardless of whether you are required to earn CE or not, you must still renew your license.
Audits
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services audits approximately 10% of licensees each education cycle to ensure they have taken the required education. Be sure to keep record of the continuing education hours you earn.
