Antonio Chirumbolo, OD is the Director of Client Services at CovalentCreative. He completed his optometry degree at the SUNY College of Optometry in 2013. Antonio is passionate about digital media, marketing, and advertising and in his free time still practices optometry in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Antonio Chirumbolo, OD

The following is meant to serve as a guide to help practicing optometrists obtain the proper information to successfully complete the licensing application for an optometry license in a new state.

An optometry license granted by each state’s regulatory board of optometry must be obtained in order to legally practice in the United States. The requirements necessary to obtain an optometry license varies from state to state in regards to fees, requirements, and application processes.

: Fees are approximations. There may be additional fees or different fees for obtaining fingerprinting based on your state of residency. There may also be other fees associated with obtaining documents, having scores and/or transcripts sent, or notarizing documents

This guide was updated on 6/13/19. Any changes to state licensure requirements occurring after this date may not be accounted for.

Submit proof by official transcript from the various schools and colleges that you have obtained the following from:

Pre-optometry (minimum of three years or the equivalent thereof).

Optometry Degree (four years of professional study and the transcript must list the entrance and graduation dates).

Complete the background check requirement (further instructions included in application).

Submit proof by affidavit from a board of optometry in the United States that you have successfully passed the licensing requirements for that board and that you hold a current license to practice optometry in that state.

After passing the Board’s standard examination, you must complete and submit to the Board for approval a protocol furnished by the Board for the use of pharmaceutical agents in the treatment of the eye and its adjacent structures

: $1250 ($450 application fee, $600 license fee, and $200 law exam fee)

Authorize release of records for use by the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing and its investigators.

Passing scores on an NBEO examination taken at any time sent directly to the division from the NBEO.

Affidavit certifying at least 3,120 hours of active licensed clinical practice experience in optometry within 36 months preceding the date of application, signed by a licensed health care professional who is familiar with your practice.

Verification that the applicant has successfully completed all the requirements for, and, received a license to practice optometry from another state or territory of the United States or from a province of Canada that required the applicant to have passed the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) examination, sent directly to the Division from the licensing jurisdiction.

Complete the Arizona Board of Optometry 

Fingerprints taken by a criminal justice agency.

Submit payment to obtain a state and federal criminal records check.

You may not have had a license or certificate revoked nor voluntarily surrendered in any other state or country while under investigation for unprofessional conduct.

You may not have a complaint, allegation, or investigation pending before another regulating entity in another state or country that related to unprofessional conduct.

Submit official transcripts directly to the Board for undergraduate and optometry school.

Submit a self-query from the National Practitioner Data Bank-Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank made 3 months before the date of the application (more information regarding this process within the application).

Submit proof you are currently licensed or certified in at least one other state and at the same practice level as determined by the Arizona State Board of Optometry and your license or certification is in good standing in all states in which the person holds a license or certification.

Submit proof that you have been licensed or certified by another state for at least one year. If the person has been licensed or certified for fewer than five years, the Board may require you to practice under the direct supervision of a licensee or certificate holder in this state.

 to the Secretary of the Board dictating his/her name, address, date of birth,and the place or places where you have engaged in the practice of optometry for the three (3) years immediately preceding the application.

Submit the names of at least three persons not related to you with whom you have been associated in the last five years.

Include a statement by that outlines that you are willing to abide by the laws of this State and the rules and regulations of this Board.

Complete the California Board of Optometry Application 

Submit proof of degree as a doctor of optometry issued by an accredited school or college of optometry.

Submit proof that you successfully passed the licensing examination for an optometric license in another state.

Submit proof that you are licensed in good standing as of the date of application in every
state where you hold a license, including compliance with continuing education requirements.

Submit proof that you have been in active practice in a state in which you are licensed for a
total of at least 5,000 hours in five of the seven consecutive years immediately preceding the date of
your application.

The state of California Board of Optometry also has an

that you can follow along with as you apply.

Complete the Colorado Board of Optometry 

Submit Verification of Licensure stating that you have been licensed and actively practicing in optometry for two (2) years prior to application.

Healthcare Professions Profiling Program (HPPP)

Verify your other optometry licenses by providing scanned copies from other state or jurisdictions where you have been and/or are currently licensed or have the verification sent directly.

Submit official transcripts directly to the Board for optometry school.

Submit proof that you have passed NBEO Parts I, II, and III and TMOD.

Complete an online healthcare professions profile (more information can be found in the application).

Complete the Colorado Board of Optometry take home law exam (part of application).

Note: The state of Colorado Board of Optometry also has an

Complete the Connecticut Board of Optometry Application 

 by providing scanned copies from other state or jurisdictions where you have been and/or are currently licensed or have the verification sent directly.

If you passed the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) examination before 2007, arrange for the Board office to receive an official report of your passing scores on Parts I – III and TMOD, sent directly from NBEO to the Board office.

Submit copies of the current optometry license law and rules and regulations from each jurisdiction where you hold a current license and where you have practiced at least five years. The Board will compare Delaware’s basic licensure standards and standards of therapeutic practice to those of each jurisdiction.

Since Delaware issues only Therapeutic Optometrist licenses, the Board will evaluate both the 

 of each jurisdiction. It is possible that the basic licensure standards are equivalent to those of Delaware, but the standards of therapeutic practice are not. If the Board determines that 

 of the jurisdictions has equivalent standards, you must re-apply by internship because you cannot be licensed by reciprocity.

Arrange for the Board office to receive verification of your practice in any jurisdiction where you hold a current license and you have practiced at least five years.

The verification letters must come from persons in a position to know your practice history, such as employer, colleague or accountant. They must be sent directly from the person to the Board office.

Since you will not know at the time you file this application which jurisdictions where you hold a current license, if any, have licensure standards equivalent to those of Delaware, it is preferable to obtain this documentation of your practice in each jurisdiction where you hold a current license and you have practiced five years.

Complete the District of Columbia Board of Optometry 

Submit official verification of licensure (active and inactive) for each jurisdiction in which you are/were licensed.

Licensure by Reciprocity is not available in this state. Applicants interested must follow the Licensure by Examination outlined below:

: $555.00 (plus a law exam fee of $58 at time of testing)

Complete the Florida Board of Optometry 

Submit licensure verification from each state you have or have ever held a license.

Complete a two-hour course on the prevention of medical errors. More information regarding where these courses can be taken and what courses are approved for Florida licensure can be found on 

Submit proof that you have passed NBEO Parts I, II, and III (specifically Biomicroscopy, Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscopy and Dilated Biomicroscopy, and Non-Contact Fundus Lens Evaluation skills 

with a passing score of 75% on each in a single attempt

within 3 years preceding the application for licensure.

Pass the Florida State Board law examination with a score of 84% or higher. Applicants will need to contact the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) to schedule a time to sit for the Laws and Rules Examination.

Complete the Georgia Board of Optometry 

Submit a secure & verifiable document and affidavit of citizenship.

Submit a Certification of Licensure form (more information is contained within the application document).

This is a complete guide on how to get your license via reciprocity in order to practice optometry in every state. Every state has different requirements.

Download the Ultimate Guide to Optometry Licensure

Learn how to complete the licensing application in all 50 U.S. states!

Ultimate Guide to Optometry Licensure by Reciprocity

Download the Ultimate Guide to Optometry Licensure