Accreditation Resources and Directories of Programs

ACOE Policy and Procedure Manual for all programs

ACOE Policy and Procedure Manual (June 2022). The ACOE’s policies and procedures have been streamlined into one manual, which replaces previous versions of Accreditation Manuals specific to each type of program within the scope of the ACOE.

Accreditation standards for each type of program (professional optometric degree, optometric residency, and optometric technician) are stand-alone documents and are available under the program resources below.

• Professional Optometric Degree Programs lead to the doctor of optometry (O.D.) degree.
• Optometric Residency Programs are post-doctoral, educational programs centered on clinical training that results in the resident’s attainment of advanced competencies in eye, vision, and health care.
• Optometric Technician Programs are certificate or associate degree level programs in optometric technicianry. 

Professional optometric degree program resources

Professional Optometric Degree Standards (effective July 1, 2017, updated July 2021) may be downloaded to serve as a framework for programs conducting self-studies. Use of these standards is mandatory for all programs being evaluated on or after  July 1, 2017. 

View the  crosswalk comparison of the 2009 doctor of optometry standards and the updated 2017 doctor of optometry standards.

View the  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) regarding 2017 OD Standard 1.4, approved by ACOE at its Feb. 9-11, 2018, meeting.

Directory of Accredited Optometric Degree Programs (optometry schools and colleges)

Directory of Preaccredited (Preliminary Approval) Optometric Degree Programs

The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry publishes data and additional information regarding the schools and colleges of optometry

• Profile of Applicants for Fall 2021 Entering Class
• Profile of the Optometry 2021 Entering Class
• National Board of Examiners in Optometry Yearly Pass Rates
• Resources for Applicants and Advisors

Standards for initial pre-accreditation of new professional optometric degree programs

NEW standards for professional optometric degree programs seeking preliminary approval preaccreditation status (effective Jan. 1, 2019). These standards are for use by newly developing, professional optometric degree programs during the Stage Two Applicant Phase, as outlined in the ACOE Policy and Procedure Manual. Use of these standards is mandatory for all programs being evaluated on or after  Jan. 1, 2019. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on OD Standard 1.4 (2017)

• How should we publish the graduation and attrition rates, NBEO data and ultimate passage rates on our website? The program is required to publish current and reliable data on its website. While there may be other ways to present the data, the following charts show how this data could be presented: 

• In addition to our standard 4-year program, we have a program in which students are expected to graduate in X number of years. How should we present this data? Data should be presented separately for each program offered by the College. 
• For various reasons, students may complete graduation requirements in more than four years, but less than five years. How should we categorize these students? Students who complete graduation requirements in the same calendar year as the end of their fourth year may be included in the four-year graduation rate if the program states this when presenting their data. This is done in the sample chart provided above. 
• How should we categorize a student who is on a leave of absence? Since the student has neither graduated nor left the program, he or she can be categorized as in the sample chart. 

Student achievement data for the schools and colleges of optometry

• Ferris State University Michigan College of Optometry
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • National Board Results
  • Graduation Rate
• Illinois College of Optometry
  • NBEO Pass Rates
  • Retention Rate
• Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry
  • Graduation/Retention Rate and Board Results
• Indiana University School of Optometry
  • National Board Pass Rates, Attrition and Graduation Rates
• MCPHS School of Optometry
  • Student Achievement
• Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry
  • Fast Facts including Board Results, Graduation Rates, Residency Placement
• Midwestern University Chicago College of Optometry
  • Fast Facts including Board Results, Graduation Rates, Residency Placement
• New England College of Optometry
  • Class Profiles and Statistics
  • Graduation and Attrition Rates
• Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry
  • Assessment Report including Board Results, Student Progression
• Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry
  • Class Profile and Board Results
• Pacific University College of Optometry
  • Board Results, Graduation Rates and Student Accolades
• Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University
  • NBEO Pass Rates-Traditional Program
  • NBEO Pass Rates-Scholars Program
  • Graduation/Retention Rates
• Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University
  • Facts and Figures
• Southern College of Optometry
  • Student/Graduate Achievement
• State University of New York College of Optometry
  • OD Student Learning Outcomes
  • Student Consumer Information
• The Ohio State University College of Optometry
  • Student Statistics
• University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry
  • Student Performance Measures
• University of California Berkeley School of Optometry
  • National Board Exam Pass Rates, Graduation and Attrition Rates
• University of Houston College of Optometry
  • Graduation and Board Pass Rates
• University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry
  • Graduation Rates and Licensing Examinations
• University of Montreal School of Optometry
  
  • Graduation Rates
• University of Missouri, St. Louis College of Optometry
  • Focus on Facts
• University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry
  • Student Performance
• University of Waterloo School of Optometry
  • Optometry Examining Board of Canada Pass Rates
  • Student Success Rates
• Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry
  • Student Achievement Outcomes

Optometric residency programs resources

Optometric residency standards effective Aug. 2019, updated May 2021. Use of these standards is mandatory for all programs being evaluated on or after July 1, 2017. 

NEW Clarification of Residency Specialty and Areas of Emphasis

Clarification of 5.1.1 of 2017 Optometric Residency Standards

Modification of Examples of Evidence 2.1 and 2.4 Optometric Residency Standards

Modification of Examples of Evidence of 3.5 of 2017 Optometric Residency Standards

ACOE Residency Self-Study Working DRAFT Template 2017 Standards, has been created as a working document to allow for collaboration of participants involved in preparing the narrative to share comments via "track changes" feature in Microsoft Word and to use spell check and other features that aren't available in protected documents. Use of this document is optional; programs may instead use the ACOE Residency FINAL Version Self-Study 2017 Standards. 

ACOE Residency FINAL Version Self-Study 2017 Standards is the document that must be submitted with appendices. This is a Word-protected document. Programs using the self-study working draft template are required to cut and paste the final narrative into this protected Word document and submit it with all appendices. 

Guidelines for Electronic Submission of an Optometric Residency Self-Study provides guidelines for residencies to submit self-studies electronically.

View the  crosswalk comparison between the 2009 and 2017 Optometric Residency Standards.

Guidelines for Conducting a Residency Annual Review

Recommended residency titles from the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO)

Directory of Accredited Optometric Residency Programs

Optometric technician programs resources

New Optometric Technician Standards(effective Jan. 1, 2019). Use of these standards is mandatory for all programs being evaluated on or after Jan. 1, 2019. These standards may be downloaded to serve as a framework for programs conducting self-studies. 

Directory of Accredited Optometric Technician Programs