My Dashboard

Guides / How to Become an Optometrist

How to Become an Optometrist

Becoming an optometrist means earning a Doctor of Optometry degree and a state license. Here is the whole path in order, and where each step is covered in more depth.

Last checked Nov 2, 2026.

The Short Answer

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says optometrists typically need a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree from an accredited program, that O.D. programs take 4 years, and that all states require optometrists to be licensed. Before the O.D. you complete college coursework, take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) and apply. After it, you pass the national board exams and your state's licensing requirements. There are 25 accredited programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, listed on the schools page.

The Steps in Order

  1. Finish your undergraduate coursework. There's no required major. 4 of 25 programs require a bachelor's degree outright, and others prefer one or accept 90 or more credits, so check your schools. The courses every program asks for are in the prerequisites guide. If you're coming from another field, read switching to optometry.
  2. Get eye care experience. Shadowing is expected by most programs, and many want a letter from an optometrist. See shadowing and experience and letters of recommendation.
  3. Take the OAT. It's the standard admissions test. Start with the OAT guide, then the study plan and what score to aim for.
  4. Apply through OptomCAS. Most programs take applications through this centralized service, and each adds its own supplemental and deadline. See the timeline, the walkthrough and what applying costs. OptomCAS counted 2,897 applicants in 2024–25, and 72% were accepted to at least one program.
  5. Interview and choose a school. See interviews, offers and deposits and compare schools.
  6. Complete the four-year O.D. program. BLS says programs include academic coursework and supervised clinical experience. For costs, see the cost calculator and whether it's worth it.
  7. Pass the NBEO boards. Most states rely on the National Board of Examiners in Optometry exams. See the NBEO boards explained.
  8. Get licensed in your state. BLS says some states require an additional exam, such as one on clinical skills or on optometry law, and that all states require continuing education and periodic license renewal. Requirements are set by each state's licensing board, so check yours.
  9. Optional: a residency. BLS says graduates may pursue 1 year of advanced clinical training in the area they want to specialize in. See careers and practice paths.

How Long It Takes

The fixed part is the 4-year O.D. program. The rest depends on you: how much of your degree you finished before applying, how long you study for the OAT, and whether you apply in your first cycle. A year of residency adds to the end. We don't publish a typical total because no source we use measures one.

What It Pays

BLS reports a median of $136,570 a year for optometrists in May 2025. Pay varies by setting and region, and the careers guide breaks it out.

Where to Start Today

Degree rules by school are from each school's admissions pages, last checked Oct 20, 2026. Each school page links its source.

Sources

Requirements and dates change each cycle. Always confirm with each school before you apply.

Keep Reading