Academic professional association offering advanced competency recognition through the Diplomate and Fellowship programs.
“To provide the highest quality continuing education and the most current vision science research.
To signify rigorous qualification and advanced competency through the Fellowship program and through the extraordinarily thorough and challenging Diplomate program.”
Recognition of voluntary professional and academic excellence.
Top-ranked academic journal available in print and online.
Non-profit professional optometric lobbying organization.
“Sets professional standards.”
“Lobbies government and other organizations on behalf of the optometric profession.”
“Provides research and education leadership.”
Established by the AOA with continued AOA governance.
Provides an NBEO-like retest for interested optometrists.
Primarily a marketing tool for participating optometrists
Highly controversial within the profession.
Accrediting body for optometry schools, optometry residency programs, and optometric technician programs in the United States and Canada.
Must be an AOA member to be an evaluator.
Association of the licensing and regulatory boards of the optometric profession.
“Represents and assists member licensing agencies in regulating the practice of optometry for the public welfare.”
Promotes the continuing competency of licensed optometrists through continuing education course accreditation.
Captures and stores continuing education attendance data for optometrists, accessible by individuals and their state licensing board(s).
Non-profit education association representing the interests of optometric educators.
“Advancing and promoting optometric education.”
Career rankings
Eye on Education newsletter
Faculty survey data
Annual student survey data
Non-profit organization primarily serving VA optometrists.
“To promote the best possible primary eye and vision care for our nation's veterans.”
Directory of VA optometry residency programs
Residency program information and brochures
Local announcements
Link to open positions throughout the VA system
Non-profit mutual benefit corporation founded to serve federal ODs.
“The premier, in-house venue for federal service optometrists to share knowledge.”
Newest, most independent optometry organization
CE, mentorship and professional education
Membership restricted to optometrists with current or past qualifying service and for certain student categories.
National, non-profit professional association of member optometrists.
“Represent the individual optometrist, regardless of practice modality.”
“The Optometric Society (TOS) was formed by, and represents the interests of, optometrists throughout the United States.”
Disclaimer: The Federal Optometric Society is not affiliated with ANY other organization. Information contained on this page is entirely public information pulled directly from each listed organization's website and is provided here only for the convenience of the reader.