Optometry seal

Oregon Board of Optometry

1900 Hines Street SE, Suite 290
Salem OR 97302
Phone: (503)399-0662
Fax: (503)399-0705
email: board@oregonobo.org

Examination and Licensure

In addition to Parts I, II, and III, and TMOD, the National Board of Examiners in Optometry administers the Oregon Law and Administrative Rules Exam. Please contact the NBEO at (800)969-3926 or visit their website's Home Page at to register for any of these exams. The Board will only verify scores for Oregon Law and Administrative Rule Examinations from individuals who have applied for licensure. The Law and Administrative Rules examination is admnistered online by the NBEO. You may register and take the Law exam at this site.

The Oregon Law and Administrative rules may be downloaded at the Board's website. Instructions for applying for licensure may be downloaded here .

Requirements of Licensure

All new licenses are issued with certification to use, administer and prescribe TOPICAL pharmaceutical agents. Additional criteria must be met in order to be certified to use administer and prescribe the NONTOPICAL pharmaceutical formulary.

  1. Pursuant to ORS 683.060(2), the Board will require a passing score on Parts I, II, and III (PAM, and Clinical Skills), and TMOD (Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease) of the National Boards of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO). NBEO standards for passing the NBEO examination will be acceptable to the Board, and
  2. The applicant for examination and licensure must provide confirmation from all states ever licensed regarding violation of laws, rules, and standards of ethics while licensed in those states.
  3. The applicant for examination and licensure must pass a written examination relating to Oregon optometric law and administrative rules, and
    • must score at least 75 on the written examination, and
    • must pass the written examination within the 12 months previous to date of Oegon licensure.
    • Since the Administrative Rule and Law examination is not clinical in nature, any applicant who does not receive a passing score on the Administrative Rule and Law examination may retake the Administrative Rule and Law examination within 90 days of the reading of the results. The Board will set a location, date and time for the administration. The examination fee for administration of the Administrative Rule and Law examination by the Board is $75.00.
  4. Any applicant whose conduct constitutes cheating or subverting of the process of the evaluation of professional competency by the Board or by an examiner may be dismissed from the examination and denied licensure.

Application for Examination and Licensure

  1. Each applicant must meet educational qualifications and must comply with the requirements of ORS 683.040 before the applicant will be accepted for examination and licensure.
  2. Each inquiry regarding application for licensure as a Doctor of Optometry must be directed to the office of the Board of Optometry.
  3. The application will be completed upon receipt by the Board of:
    • An application form (download application);
    • A copy of the official final transcript from an accredited College of Optometry indicating receipt of the Doctor of Optometry degree;
    • A copy of the record establishing satisfactory completion of a course in pharmacology as it applies to optometry from an institution approved under ORS 683.040(2) when applicable;
    • Verification of the passage of the examination of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry
    • Receipt by the Board's office of the $200.00 application fee; and
    • Confirmation that a candidate for licensure has not been sanctioned for violating the laws, rules, and standards of ethics of another jurisdiction if licensed therein.
    • Documentation of completion of the required continuing optometric education.
  4. Any application received from an optometrist who has been sanctioned by revocation of license by another optometric licensing jurisdiciton shall be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Board.


Certification to use, administer, and prescribe the NON-TOPICAL pharmaceutical formulary (AT Certification) is a condition of Active Status licensure beginning 1/1/2009.

This page was last revised: DECEMBER 16, 2011

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