General Information

APPLICATION

• Complete the Application for Licensure online (preferred) or download a paper form from the link at the bottom of the page.
• Total Initial Application fee is $282.00.
• ALL FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. 
  

• Minnesota law and Board policy now require that all applicants for initial licensure must complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check. The law requiring these background checks is Minn. Stat. § 214.075. 
• The Minnesota Health Licensing Boards have cooperatively established a Criminal Background Check Program to help you efficiently complete this mandatory background check. Please direct any questions you have about the background check process to Criminal Background Check Program staff, and not the Board.   
• Initial results indicate this may add three to four weeks to complete the CBC and application to the license process.  
• Once your application is received, the Criminal Background Check Unit will contact you with directions to complete the CBC via email.  
• The $32.00 fee is added to your application and there is no additional fee.   The MBO will be informed of the results and move your application forward.

THERAPEUTIC DRUG CERTIFICATION/LEVEL LICENSURE          

• All Minnesota Licensed Optometrists meet therapeutic certification standards (TPA) and are considered as meeting nationally recognized TMOD requirements.  This level licensure standard is all inclusive of any former education including, but not limited to DPA, TPA certifications if the Minnesota licensed OD is currently or initially licensed after January 1, 2013.   One license certificate is issued which encompasses DPA, TPA and full licensure as a Minnesota Licensed Optometric Doctor, OD.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

• Required supporting documentation will be accepted in the Board office independent of the application. As items are received, you will receive an email update indicating their verification and acceptance by the board.
• Official transcripts must be received directly from your school or college of optometry, either by mail or electronically. Minnesota is considered a primary verification state which requires all items submitted for licensure to be validated from a primary source.

NBEO EXAMINATION RESULTS

• It is the applicant's responsibility to request NBEO scores are sent directly to Minnesota as one of their chosen score release states.
• All current examinations scores submitted by NBEO, must clearly list successful results of Part I, Applied Basic Science; Part II, Patient Assessment & Management; Part III, Clinical Skills and TMOD, Treatment & Management of Ocular Disease are received in the Board office.
• NBEO scores are not sent to the board until NBEO receives an official academic transcript indicating completion of the Optometric Doctorate. Minnesota will not license until official NBEO scores are received.

STATE LAW EXAMINATION

• The state law examination will be based on the Minnesota Statutes and Board Rules for Optometry mn.gov/boards/optometry/board-info/statutes-rules/
• Applicants should complete the Minnesota Law Examination online through the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) www.optometry.org or through special arrangement can sit for the examination at the office of the Minnesota Board of Optometry by appointment.
• This examination can be completed prior to the Board's review of your application. 
• Exam results are sent directly to the board via email from NBEO and are valid for one (1) year from date of completion.

ISSUANCE OF MINNESOTA LICENSES TO PRACTICE OPTOMETRY

• The Minnesota Board of Optometry has delegated authority for staff to issue an initial license within 48 hours of successful validation of all items required, fees and all supporting documentation in the board office.
• For applications that require any variance or waiver of standard operating policies, the entire board must review and approve the application for licensure per their regularly called board meeting schedule.

QUESTIONS?

Contact:

Minnesota Board of Optometry
335 Randolph Avenue Suite 210
St. Paul MN 55102
(651) 201-2762 FAX (651) 201-2763
Website: mn.gov/boards/optometry/ 
Email: optometry.board@state.mn.us