Optometrist
Comprehensive Sites
Bureau of Labor Statistics: OptometristCreated by the U.S. Department of Labor, this career profile introduces you to the training, work qualifications, employment data, and job outlook for an optometrist. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find links to important professional organizations in the field, or click on detailed earnings data.
CareerOneStop: OptometristFrom a complete nationwide career profile database, this site lets you connect to specific information from any state you choose on becoming an optometrist. You will find, not only a description of an optometrist, but also a career video, specific tasks and skills needed, work activities, and links to information on training and colleges. A host of related job profile sites is also available.
Princeton Review: OptometristFind out what a day in the life of an optometrist could be like at this site, which also offers information on what to expect in terms of earnings after several years in the field. You can connect to information on college majors that could be useful, as well as find other useful career links.
Occupational Titles
Optometrist
Doctor of Optometry
O.D.
Accredited Academic Programs
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry: Member Schools and CollegesThe list at this site provides contact information and links to member schools and colleges of optometry so that you can learn about accredited programs nationwide.
Princeton Review: Optometrist College MajorsTake a look at the list of majors at this page—all of which could be useful as undergraduate majors in pursuing a career as an optometrist. If you click on one you are interested in, you will be taken to a list of schools, contacts, and links for the schools that offer that major.
Salary Levels
PayScale: OptometristThe salary by years of experience for an optometrist is shown at the graph at this site. If you scroll down, you will find answers to questions about salary data and additional depictions of salary data according to the employer type or city of employment.
Professional Organizations
American Optometric AssociationIf you go to the link for students, you will find connections to information on accredited schools of optometry. You can learn about membership in this organization after graduation or take advantage of the student resources available, which include a guide to school loans, an online newsletter, and an optometry career center.
American Optometric Student AssociationThis student division of the parent professional organization offers plenty of information to students. You can find a list of schools of optometry, information on what to expect after graduation, and information on student member benefits.
Association of Schools and Colleges of OptometryThis organization’s goal is the advancement of optometric education, and it is geared toward students and young professionals. You will find student and advisor information on selecting a school, details on the career promotion corps, publications, links to related educational resources and organization, and student prerequisites to admission to schools of optometry.
Job Opportunity Sources
American Optometric Association: Optometry’s Career CenterThis national online job matching service provides listings of many types of opportunities in the field of optometry. Take advantage of this free source and learn about careers as an independent contractor, a contact lens technician, and optometry associates.
Optometry.com: Eye Care JobsThe jobs at this site are listed by date, title, company, and location and should give you a general idea of the types of opportunities out there in the field of optometry.
Licensing & Certification
American Optometric Student Association: Licensure and Board ExaminationEverything you need to know about licensure and board examination is contained at this page, which introduces studying for the boards, different state requirements, testing, and a link to a website which is very useful for board exam candidates.
Association of Regulatory Boards of OptometryA state-by-state directory of optometry boards is found at this page, where you can go for specific information on your geographic location. Click on your state and find details on licensure, applications, registration for testing, approved education programs, and a variety of other useful state-based resources.
Publications
Journal of the American Optometric AssociationAt this page, you can browse free past issue table of contents and abstracts of the official journal of the American Optometric Association.
Optometric ManagementIf you click on the new O.D. link, you will find resources geared toward younger professionals, such as archived newsletters about optometry school and other issues that are important to students. Free continuing education is a part of this optometric publication.
Review of OptometryThis online publication provides several tools for people interested in optometry, including a free current issue, forums and handouts, an e-newsletter, and links to related resources in the field. You will also find educational information, such as disease handbooks
Online Forums & Blogs
OptiBoard Discussion ForumThis general eye care and optics discussion forum addresses general topics in the eye care field and is intended for professionals. You can learn a lot about the field after registering, where you can post and access blogs, find other members, and search related forums. Industry news, contact lenses, the optical marketplace, a job board, and educational forums are included.
Career Videos
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry: Student and Advisor InformationIf you are curious about optometry as a career, this video will show you the student’s point of view, courtesy of the Illinois College of Optometry.
ISeek: OptometristsIn addition to providing a comprehensive career profile, this site offers a free career video, which outlines the optometrist’s job in diagnosing and treating vision problems. Learn about how optometrists use computerized instruments to make a diagnosis, or find out more about the tasks that optometrists perform every day.
