Educational Requirements of an Optometrist

The job of an optometrist comprises treating people with various eye problems. Optometrists check for these problems, and further provide suitable diagnosis and treatment for the same. Prescribing medication for the particular eye problem also comes under the job description of an optometrist. Furthermore, prescribing corrective glasses and contact lenses is part of their job. They can also refer their patients to specialists for the various problems they may be suffering for. It is an optometrist's job to provide a treatment plan and care, for those patients who have to undergo eye surgery. If you think you wish to pursue such a career, then take a look at these education requirements you will need to fulfill to become an optometrist.

Expected Qualifications
To become an optometrist, you are going to have to fulfill the following requirements:

• You will have to complete a 4 year Doctor of Optometry degree, at a school that has been accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association.
• To gain admission into a school of optometry, you will have to take up courses in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and English. In short, you must have a science background as an undergraduate, to qualify as a student in this field.
• Since gaining admission to a school of optometry is very competitive, you will be required to give a standardized exam known as the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) to measure your understanding of science, as well as your academic capabilities. Here, you will be tested on all the scientific fields, that includes general and organic chemistry, physics and biology. Even your reading comprehension will be checked along with your quantitative reasoning skills. It would be best to take this test in your sophomore year, as this will help you raise your score over time.
• In class, you will be exposed to laboratory study, where you will be provided training in the diagnosing and treating eye problems and disorders. You will also be trained in subjects such as vision science, biochemistry, systemic diseases, optics and pharmacology.
• You will also be trained in determining various eye problems, prescribing methods and medication for eye care. You will be taught how to prescribe and utilize means of vision correction such as the type of eyeglasses, their thickness, the use of contact lenses, etc.
• For those of you who wish to specialize in one particular field of optometry, can opt for the one-year postgraduate clinical residency programs that are available at various schools of optometry. These fields include vision therapy and rehabilitation, cornea and contact lenses, ocular disease, refractive and ocular surgery, low-vision rehabilitation, geriatric or pediatric optometry.
• To pursue an optometrist's career, you must obtain a license to practice it. For this, you must have an optometrist's degree from an accredited school of optometry, and must clear a state as well as a national exam. To continue in this career, your license must be renewed every 1-3 years. You also need to attain continuing education credits to renew your license.

Skills
Simply completing the aforementioned education requirements is not enough. You must also possess certain skills that will help you advance in this field. These skills will also be a part of your educational program, but honing them and using them in the best way possible is your responsibility. You must have certain managerial skills, and office skills training. The knowledge of basic business skills is a plus when it comes to managing your own business. Excellent communication skills are required, since this is a medical job, and knowing how to communicate the various problems your patient may be suffering from is an essential aspect of your training.

Choosing to become an optometrist by completing the above-mentioned education requirements will help you attain a rewarding career, that not only enables you to help people, but also provides financial success in the long run, as the salary range of an optometrist is quite high. If these are the things you are looking for in a career, and if you have the affinity for the various sciences, this field of education is definitely meant for you.