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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Pennsylvania Licensure Requirements

    Doctoral of Optometry

    2 Examination

    No Experience Requirement

    3 Hours of Continuing Education 

    $25.00 Initial Fee

    $135.00 Renewal Fee

    Optometrist with authorization to prescribe and administer pharmaceutical agents for therapeutic purposes.

    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 the accredited school has been met.

    * Unless completed in Doctor of Optometry degree, proof of completion of a 100-hour course in the prescription and administration of pharmaceutical agents for therapeutic purposes must be received by the State Board. 

     

    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 license is required to complete, during the 2 years preceding renewal or reactivation, a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education, which includes 6 hours in therapeutic courses, 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.