Accreditation is a vital factor in receiving an education in optometry. Optometry practitioners in the United States must be licensed; a license requires a Doctor of Optometry degree from an accredited institution or program in addition to state examinations. Accreditation also gives students confidence in their education; that it is of quality and will hold up to standards established by professional optometrists and the industry.
The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) is the leading authority for accreditation of optometry programs in the United States. The ACOE is accepted as a reliable authority on the quality of optometry education by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The ACOE works to ensure constant improvement in optometric education.
There are also six regional accrediting bodies for institutions throughout the U.S.:
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges
- Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
- Middle State Association of Colleges and Schools
Some other organizations related to optometric education are:
- American Optometric Association (AOA)
- Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO)
- Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO)
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