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    Optometrist Therapeutic Glaucoma Licensure Requirements Snapshot

    Pennsylvania Licensure Requirements

    Doctor of Optometry

    Examination

    No Experience Requirement

    30 Hours of Continuing Education (when renewing license)

    $25.00 Initial Fee

    $135.00 Renewal Fee

    An optometrist who is licensed to treat eye diseases and write prescriptions as needed, in addition to ascertaining the need for visual corrections such as glasses, contact lenses and refractive surgery.

    Application procedure.

     An applicant for certification to treat glaucoma under section 4.2 of the act (63 P.S. § 244.4b) shall submit to the Board a completed application obtained from the Board together with the certification fee required by § 23.91 (relating to fees), and one of the following.

    (1)    A signed verification attesting that the licensee obtained therapeutic certification by passing the licensure examination to practice optometry. The examination shall have included the prescription and administration of pharmaceutical agents for therapeutic purposes (the examination required for therapeutic certification under section 4.1(a)(1) of the act (63 P.S. § 244.4a(a)(1)). The verification shall state the month and year the licensee passed this examination.

    (2)    A signed verification attesting that the licensee obtained therapeutic certification by passing an examination on the prescription and administration of pharmaceutical agents for therapeutic purposes (the examination required for therapeutic certification under section 4.1(a)(2) of the act) and certificates of attendance from Board-approved continuing education courses demonstrating at least 18 hours in glaucoma, completed since December 19, 2002.

    Continuing Education: 

    30 Hours (when renewing license)

    In order to continue treating glaucoma, at least 4 hours of the 30 hours must be taken in courses related to the treatment of glaucoma. These 4 glaucoma hours may also be used toward the 6 hour requirement in general pharmaceuticals, so long as a total of 30 hours is completed biennially.

    Initial Licensing Fee: 

    $25.00

    Licensure Renewal Fee: 

    $135.00

    Biennial renewal of license.

    Licensure by Reciprocity & Licensure by Act 41:

    The board may, upon written application and payment of the regular examination fee, issue a license without an examination to any applicant who: (1) is at least 21 years of age; and (2)  has passed a standard examination in optometry in any other state or all parts of the examination given by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, provided that the standards of the other state or the National Board are equal to or exceed the standards of this Commonwealth; or (3) is licensed in another state and has practiced in that state for a minimum of four years immediately preceding application.

    Act 41 requires licensing boards and commissions to issue a license, certificate, registration or permit to an applicant who holds a current license, certificate, registration or permit from another state, territory or country whose licensing requirements are substantially equivalent to or exceed the requirements in this Commonwealth and who meet other criteria set forth under Act 41.