What Degree Do You Need to Be an Optometrist — And How It Compares to Other Doctoral-Level Health Careers

The Road to Optometry Starts with Understanding the Degree Path

If you've been searching "what degree do you need to be an optometrist," you're asking the right question at the right time. Optometry is one of the most rewarding doctoral-level healthcare careers, offering strong autonomy, excellent patient relationships, and a stable job market. But the educational path is specific, and it's worth understanding exactly what's required before you commit years of study and tuition dollars to the journey.

I work with healthcare job seekers every day at healthcareers.app, and I've noticed something interesting: many people who start researching optometry end up comparing it to other advanced-degree health professions — perfusionist programs, anesthesia assistant roles, and similar careers that require graduate or doctoral training but aren't traditional medical school. That comparison is actually quite useful, because it reveals how different the educational investment, timeline, and daily work can be across healthcare's doctoral and master's-level roles.

In this post, I'll walk you through exactly what degree you need to become an optometrist, the prerequisite coursework, the admissions process, and the licensing steps. Then I'll put the optometry path side by side with two other advanced healthcare careers — perfusionists and anesthesia assistants — so you can make a truly informed decision about where to invest your future.

What Degree Do You Need to Be an Optometrist?

To practice optometry in the United States, you need a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE). This is a four-year professional doctoral program, similar in structure to medical school or dental school, though with a distinct curriculum focused on vision science, ocular disease, and primary eye care.

Undergraduate Prerequisites

Before you can enter an O.D. program, you'll need to complete at least three years of undergraduate coursework, though the vast majority of admitted students hold a bachelor's degree. There is no single required undergraduate major — biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and neuroscience are common choices, but English or psychology majors who complete the prerequisite science courses are equally eligible.

Typical prerequisite courses include:

• General biology with lab (two semesters)
• General chemistry with lab (two semesters)
• Organic chemistry with lab (one to two semesters)
• Physics with lab (two semesters)
• Mathematics, typically through calculus or statistics
• English composition or writing courses
• Microbiology or biochemistry (varies by program)
• Psychology (required or recommended by many schools)

Requirements vary slightly across the 23 accredited optometry schools in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, so I always recommend checking the specific prerequisites for each program you're targeting.

The OAT: Optometry Admission Test

Nearly all O.D. programs require the Optometry Admission Test (OAT), a standardized exam administered by the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry. The OAT covers natural sciences (biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry), reading comprehension, physics, and quantitative reasoning. Strong OAT scores, combined with a competitive GPA (typically 3.3 or higher), clinical shadowing hours, and well-crafted personal statements, form the foundation of a competitive application.

The Four-Year O.D. Curriculum

Once admitted, the Doctor of Optometry curriculum typically follows this progression:

1. Year 1: Foundational sciences — ocular anatomy, physiological optics, biochemistry, neuroanatomy, and introductory clinical skills.
2. Year 2: Clinical sciences — ocular disease, pharmacology, contact lens fitting, binocular vision, and pediatric optometry. Students begin supervised patient care in university clinics.
3. Year 3: Advanced clinical training — systemic disease management, low vision rehabilitation, specialty contact lenses, and more intensive clinical rotations within university-affiliated practices.
4. Year 4: Full-time clinical externships — students rotate through diverse settings such as VA hospitals, community health centers, private practices, ophthalmology co-management clinics, and ocular disease specialty clinics.

Some graduates choose to complete an optional one-year residency after earning their O.D. Residencies are available in specialties like ocular disease, pediatric optometry, vision therapy, low vision, and cornea and contact lenses. While not required for licensure, residencies are increasingly valued by employers and can open doors to hospital-based positions and academic careers.

Licensing: The Final Step

After earning the O.D. degree, you must pass the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) examinations, which consist of three parts covering applied basic science, patient assessment and management, and clinical skills. Additionally, each state has its own licensing requirements, which may include jurisprudence exams covering state-specific optometry laws. All 50 states require licensure to practice.

Total Timeline: How Long Does It Really Take?

Here's the realistic timeline from high school graduation to practicing optometrist:

• Undergraduate education: 4 years (sometimes 3 if applying early)
• O.D. program: 4 years
• Optional residency: 1 year
• Total: 8 to 9 years

This is comparable to the timeline for dentists (D.D.S./D.M.D.) and shorter than the path for most physicians, who face 4 years of medical school plus 3 to 7 years of residency.

How Optometry's Education Path Compares to Perfusionist School and Anesthesia Assistant Programs

One reason I wanted to write this post is that I frequently see candidates researching optometry alongside other advanced healthcare roles that don't follow the traditional M.D. pipeline. Two careers that come up repeatedly are perfusionists and anesthesia assistants. Let's compare all three.

Perfusionist School: A Master's-Level Path to the Operating Room

A perfusionist operates the heart-lung machine (cardiopulmonary bypass machine) during open-heart surgeries and other procedures requiring circulatory support. It's a highly specialized, high-stakes role with a much smaller workforce than optometry.

Perfusionist school typically requires:

• A bachelor's degree with strong science prerequisites (anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and often perfusion-specific coursework)
• Completion of an accredited perfusion program, which is usually a master's degree lasting approximately 2 years (though some certificate programs still exist, the field is moving toward requiring master's-level education)
• Clinical rotations involving a minimum number of cardiopulmonary bypass cases
• Certification through the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP), which involves both a written and clinical exam

The total educational timeline is roughly 6 years (4 undergraduate + 2 graduate), shorter than optometry's 8-year path. However, the number of accredited perfusion programs is very small — there are fewer than 20 in the United States — making admission highly competitive. The Bureau of Labor Statistics groups perfusionists within broader cardiovascular technology categories, but industry sources consistently describe the job market as strong due to the limited number of graduates each year.

What Is an Anesthesia Assistant?

If you've been wondering "what is an anesthesia assistant," here's the quick answer: an Anesthesiologist Assistant (AA) is a master's-level clinician who works under the direct supervision of an anesthesiologist to help administer anesthesia and monitor patients during surgery. AAs perform many of the same clinical tasks as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), but they follow a different educational and licensing pathway.

The anesthesia assistant path involves:

• A bachelor's degree with pre-medical prerequisites (biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, calculus)
• A strong score on the MCAT or GRE (program-dependent)
• Completion of an accredited Master of Medical Science (MMSc) or similar master's degree in anesthesia, typically lasting 24 to 28 months
• Extensive clinical rotations in operating rooms, performing hundreds of anesthesia cases under supervision
• Certification through the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA)

The total timeline is approximately 6 to 7 years. One important caveat: AAs are only licensed to practice in about 20 states currently, though legislative efforts are expanding their scope. This geographic limitation is a critical factor that candidates should research thoroughly before committing to an AA program.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Here's how these three careers stack up on key educational and career metrics:

• Degree required: Optometrist — doctoral (O.D.); Perfusionist — master's; Anesthesia Assistant — master's
• Total years of education: Optometrist — 8-9; Perfusionist — 6; Anesthesia Assistant — 6-7
• Number of accredited programs: Optometrist — 23; Perfusionist — fewer than 20; Anesthesia Assistant — approximately 14
• Practice independence: Optometrist — high (can own a practice, prescribe medications in all states); Perfusionist — works as part of surgical team; Anesthesia Assistant — works under anesthesiologist supervision
• Geographic licensing flexibility: Optometrist — all 50 states; Perfusionist — most states; Anesthesia Assistant — approximately 20 states

Sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics project strong demand across all three professions, though optometry benefits from the largest patient population (virtually everyone needs eye care) while perfusion and anesthesia assisting serve more specialized surgical populations.

Which Path Is Right for You?

I've helped thousands of healthcare job seekers navigate these kinds of decisions through healthcareers.app, and I'll share the framework I always recommend:

Choose Optometry If...

• You want to be a primary care provider with high autonomy and the option to own your own practice
• You enjoy long-term patient relationships (managing chronic conditions like glaucoma, following patients annually)
• You want geographic flexibility — optometrists are needed everywhere, from major cities to rural communities
• You're comfortable with an 8-year educational commitment and the associated tuition investment

Choose Perfusionist School If...

• You thrive in high-intensity operating room environments
• You're drawn to technology and mechanical systems (the heart-lung machine is incredibly complex)
• You prefer a shorter educational timeline with a focused master's program
• You're comfortable with a smaller, more specialized job market

Consider Becoming an Anesthesia Assistant If...

• You're fascinated by anesthesia, pharmacology, and patient monitoring
• You want an advanced clinical role without the length of medical school or the nursing prerequisite of the CRNA path
• You plan to practice in a state that licenses AAs (check this first — it's a dealbreaker if your home state doesn't recognize the credential)
• You enjoy the team-based dynamic of working closely with an anesthesiologist

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you become an optometrist without a bachelor's degree?

Technically, some O.D. programs admit students who have completed three years of undergraduate study without a bachelor's degree, but this is uncommon. The vast majority of successful applicants — roughly 95 percent or more — hold a four-year bachelor's degree before matriculating. Having a completed degree also provides a safety net if your career plans change.

Is optometry school harder to get into than medical school?

Admission to optometry school is competitive, but the applicant-to-seat ratio is generally more favorable than for M.D. programs. Average GPAs and standardized test scores for admitted optometry students tend to be slightly lower than for medical school, though this varies by program. The key difference is that optometry uses the OAT while medical schools require the MCAT, which is a longer and broader exam.

How much does optometry school cost?

Tuition for O.D. programs varies widely. Public optometry schools typically range from lower costs for in-state students to significantly higher figures for out-of-state or private institutions. Total educational debt for optometry graduates often falls between what dental and pharmacy graduates carry. I encourage candidates to research the specific tuition figures for their target programs, as costs change annually.

What is an anesthesia assistant versus a nurse anesthetist?

Both anesthesia assistants (AAs) and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) provide anesthesia care, but their educational backgrounds differ significantly. CRNAs are advanced practice registered nurses who must first earn a nursing degree and work in critical care before entering a nurse anesthesia program. Anesthesia assistants follow a pre-medical undergraduate path directly into a master's anesthesia program, similar to the physician assistant model. AAs always practice under anesthesiologist supervision, while CRNAs have independent practice authority in many states.

Can perfusionists work outside the operating room?

Yes, though OR work is the core of the role. Perfusionists may also work in cardiac catheterization labs, manage extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for critically ill patients in the ICU, and support organ procurement teams during transplant cases. The expanding use of ECMO has broadened the perfusionist's role significantly in recent years.

Making Your Decision with Confidence

Understanding what degree you need to be an optometrist is the essential first step, but I encourage you not to stop there. Compare the optometry path against other advanced healthcare careers — whether that's perfusionist school, an anesthesia assistant program, or another doctoral-level profession — to find the role that truly aligns with your clinical interests, lifestyle goals, and tolerance for educational investment. Each of these careers offers meaningful patient impact, strong job security, and professional respect. The right choice depends on who you are, where you want to live, and what kind of clinical work excites you most. We built healthcareers.app to help you explore these paths and find opportunities that match your training once you're ready to launch your career. Whatever you decide, you're entering healthcare at a time when skilled professionals have never been more valued.