Verified October 10, 2026 against the practice act, board rules and sources cited below. The board decides every application. All states
What optometrists miss in California
- California applicants out of state receive fingerprint hard cards by mail instead of Live Scan.
- Part 2 should not be filed before graduation; early filings wait in the general queue.
How does an optometrist licensed elsewhere get a California license?
Out-of-state optometrists follow the standard two-part application: pass the California Laws and Regulations Exam (CLRE) first, then file Part 2 with NBEO scores, transcripts, fingerprints and a Letter of Verification from every state where they held a license.
- On NBEO scores
- Board: California State Board of Optometry
Citation: Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 3056, 3057
Which NBEO exams does California require?
NBEO Parts I, II, III and TMOD are required. TMOD is required for every TPA and higher license type.
- NBEO: I, II, III, TMOD
Does California require a law exam?
The CLRE is taken through PSI after the Part 1 application on BreEZe. Nothing else should be submitted until it is passed. A failed attempt can be retaken after 90 days; a second failure needs board reapproval and a new fee.
- Board law exam
What scope does a California license carry?
Certifications are chosen in Part 2 and priced separately: TPA $25, TPL (lacrimal irrigation and dilation) $50, TPG or TLG (primary open-angle glaucoma) $50. Glaucoma and lacrimal certifications are requested through BreEZe.
- Tiers: DPA, TPA, TPL (lacrimal irrigation and dilation), TPG (glaucoma), TLG (both)
Citation: Board fees page and FAQ
Does California require a controlled substance license?
Active licensees pay a biennial $30 CURES (prescription monitoring) fee.
What does a California optometry license cost?
- Application: $275 Part 1 plus $4 NPDB, then $25 to $134 Part 2 depending on certifications (as of Oct 2026)
- Renewal: $500 every 2 years (as of Oct 2026)
- Fingerprints required
Citation: 16 CCR § 1524; board fees page
How often does a California license renew?
50 hours with an optometric therapeutic certification (35 on ocular disease; 10 on glaucoma for glaucoma certification), 40 without; none at the first renewal within a year of graduation.
- Renews every two years
- 50 CE hours
Licensing in California?
We prepare every supporting document and a question-by-question guide, order your verifications and NBEO scores, and track the file to a decision; you answer, sign, pay the board and sit every exam. A license is $699 per state, or $799 where the state gives its own exam or interview.