Optometrist

Exam

State + third-party exam

Education

Degree

Experience

None

Background check

Felony convictions prohibited

Every candidate interested in obtaining a license for the practice of optometry or certified optometry shall meet the following requirements: (1) Request, fill out and submit the license application form to the Board within the established time limit. (2) Submit official evidence of having taken a minimum of ninety (90) credit hours at the university level in preoptometry studies. (3) Submit the original and a copy of a Doctor of Optometry diploma obtained from a school, college or university offering that degree, recognized by the Board and accredited by the Council of Optometric Education (COE) of the American Optometric Association (AOA), which course shall consist of not less than four (4) years of optometric studies. (4) Submit official evidence of having approved Parts: 1 (Basic Sciences), II (Clinical Sciences), III (Patient Care) of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) or its successors. Optometrists who graduated before 1999 may submit evidence of having approved the revalidation examination prepared and administered by the Board prior to that year. (5) Submit an official certificate of good conduct in Puerto Rico. (6) Submit a negative controlled substances detection certificate issued by a laboratory duly licensed by the Department of Health according to the guidelines and parameters established by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (N.I.D.A.) (7) Submit any other document required by the Board through duly established regulations pursuant to §§ 544—544y of this title.