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    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

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

    Certification to prescribe and administer pharmaceutical agents for therapeutic purposes

    To obtain such certification, a licensee shall submit an application to the board on a form provided by the board showing to the satisfaction of the board that the licensee has either:

    (1)    graduated from an accredited school of optometry and as a condition for graduation has successfully completed a minimum of 100 hours in the prescription and administration of pharmaceutical agents for therapeutic purposes and has passed a licensure examination to practice optometry, which examination included the prescription and administration of pharmaceutical agents for therapeutic purposes; or

    (2)    completed a board-approved course of a minimum of 100 hours in the prescription and administration of pharmaceutical agents for therapeutic purposes and has passed an examination on the prescription and administration of pharmaceutical agents for therapeutic purposes, which examination was prepared and administered by a qualified and approved professional testing organization in accordance with section 812.1 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L. 177, No. 175),1 known as “The Administrative Code of 1929.”

    Continuing Education: 

    30 Hours (when renewing license)

    Optometrists are required to complete at least 30 hours of Board-approved continuing education in each biennial period. For optometrists certified at the therapeutics level, at least 6 of the 30 hours must be taken in courses related to pharmaceuticals. 

    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.