State of Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing
Ensuring the availability of safe and competent professional services 		Secretary Celia Jackson
 Secretary Jackson
Home | About DRL | Site Map | Contact DRL | Request PIN | Health Professions | Business Professions | All Boards
Application Process
Download Help
Practice FAQs

Obtain License
Renew Online
 

Optometrist - Credentialing

1). Complete education.

Applicants must have graduated from an accredited optometric college.

 

2). Successfully complete the national board exams.

3). Complete and submit application form, including required documentation.

4). Successfully complete the Wisconsin Online Exam.

The passing score for Optometry is 88%. You will receive your exam name, password, and applicant ID which you will use as your student ID to take this test after you submit your application.

•  You cannot access the entire exam using a Mac computer.

•  You must use internet explorer as your browser.

•  Go to http://exam.drl.wi.gov

•  Select: “ test launching ”

•  Your instructor is “gsp”

•  If you are unable to access the exam, try again later. Refresh your internet explorer browser.

•  The answers to the exam questions are in the codebook which is free and online at http://drl.wi.gov . It may be helpful to print out the chapters from the “excerpts of the Wisconsin Administrative Code.”

•  The exam is un-timed. You may exit and return to the test any time over the next 3 months. Exit by clicking the “X” at the top right hand corner of any screen.

•  Do not click “done” until you are ready to submit the exam. If you accidentally click done before you are ready to submit your exam, just go back in and start again. Your first score will be deleted.

•  Print out a copy of your score report and retain it for your own records.

•  Additional technical or exam content-related questions can be directed to: gail.pizarro@wisconsin.gov

 

5). Decision to grant credential is made.

DIAGNOSTIC PHARMACEUTICAL AGENT (DPA) CERTIFICATE: An optometrist may obtain a DPA certificate if the following requirements are met:

1. A plan is established for the referral of patients who experience adverse reactions from the application of topical ocular diagnostic pharmaceutical agents to appropriate medical services;

2. Successfully complete 60 classroom hours of study in general and ocular pharmacology as it relates to optometry, 30 of which must be in ocular pharmacology;

3. Successfully complete the clinical pharmacology exam of national boards; Parts I and II of the National Board exam administered after 1986, or an approved exam through the optometry school which provided the 60 classroom hours;  

  and

4. Submittal of a complete application with required documentation. No fee is charged for a DPA certificate.

THERAPEUTIC PHARMACEUTICAL AGENT (TPA) CERTIFICATE: An optometrist may obtain a TPA certificate if the following requirements are met:

1. DPA certification has been granted.

2. Successful completion of 100 hours of approved study and the examination offered by the course provider in the use of therapeutic pharmaceutical agents and the removal of superficial foreign bodies from an eye or an appendage to the eye; or successfully complete the TMOD examination; and

3. Submittal of a complete application with required documentation. No fee is charged for a TPA certificate.

In order to practice with therapeutic pharmaceutical agents that are controlled substances, an optometrist must obtain a D.E.A. number.

Check the FAQs to determine if a credential can be transferred from other States/Countries.

 

Biennial Renewal Due by: December 14 of odd-numbered years.

Common Denial Reason: Cannot meet above requirements.

Convictions of crimes or pending charges may be grounds for denial of license if the circumstances of the conviction or charge are substantially related to professional practice.

 
 
Last updated: Friday, April 10, 2009