ACOE Standards updates take effect: What they mean for optometric education programs

New accreditation standards for professional optometric degree programs took effect with the new year, ensuring continued educational rigor and greater alignment for developing and operational programs. 

As of Jan. 1, the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) recognizes new Professional Optometric Degree Program Standards applicable to both existing and prospective optometric degree programs, the result of the ACOE’s Comprehensive Standards Review process launched in December 2021. Notably, the new Standards ensure optometry students continue to receive a high-quality education with key updates, including: 

• Providing alignment. The new Standards replace what was previously two separate sets of Standards—one set for developing programs seeking Preliminary Approval and one set for existing programs. The alignment in Standards ensures a developing program understands the requirements it must adhere to once a program becomes operational, while holding the program to requirements commensurate to their development stage.
  

• Linking terminology. The new Standards incorporate terms defined by the ACOE’s Glossary, including several key or new terms, such as “contemporary optometry.” This helps set a clear benchmark applicable to all accredited programs.
  

• Setting expectations for alternate pathways. The new Standards define ACOE’s expectations for programs offering distance education or alternate pathways, e.g., a path that results in conferring a Doctor of Optometry degree that is distinct from the traditional program.
  

• Showing evidence of Standards adherence. The new Standards stress adherence, reiterating that operational programs must go beyond establishing policies and procedures but also must provide evidence of adherence to those policies and procedures.
  

• Focusing on continuous quality improvement. The new Standards stress programs’ adoption of a continuous quality improvement cycle. Such approach involves establishing benchmarks, conducting self-assessment to determine performance, identifying performance gaps and taking appropriate action in a continuous loop. 

“The Standards for both proposed and existing professional optometric degree programs have never been more comprehensive or rigorous, and the ACOE has never been more focused on fulfilling its mission,” says G. Timothy Petito, O.D., ACOE chair. “As directed by the U.S. Department of Education (DoE), which sets forth regulations to which recognized accreditors, including the ACOE, must adhere, we follow the applicable regulations when establishing, maintaining and applying standards to assure the quality of optometric education. Part of the regulations require the ACOE to seek public comments on its standards, and we encourage the public, policy and public health experts, involved programs, and every doctor of optometry to offer comments and information to aid the ACOE in fulfilling its mission.” 

As the exclusive accreditation body for professional optometric degree, residency and optometric technician programs in the U.S. and Canada, the ACOE is recognized by the DoE and Council on Higher Education Accreditation. The ACOE was most recently reaffirmed by the DoE in 2023. 

In addition to the Professional Optometric Degree Program Standards that took effect on Jan. 1, the ACOE’s new Optometric Residency Program Standards will take effect July 1, 2025. 

Rigorous ACOE accreditation process for programs 

The ACOE is charged with serving the public and profession by “establishing, maintaining and applying Standards to ensure the academic quality and continuous improvement of optometric education that reflect the contemporary practice of optometry.”  

Toward that end, the ACOE follows a comprehensive and continual review process to ensure students receive a high-quality education. In fact, the full process for a prospective professional optometric degree program to earn accreditation takes more than six years, requiring ACOE approval for applicants to continue to each subsequent stage of the process. This multi-step process is intentional, ensuring only those prospective programs that successfully meet all requirements will earn accreditation and offer a quality program. 

As of Jan. 1, the following prospective programs have been granted a status from the ACOE: 

• University of Detroit Mercy, School of Optometry 
  Novi, Michigan 
  Preliminary Approval, Professional Optometric Degree Program
  

• High Point University School of Optometry 
  High Point, North Carolina 
  Stage One designation, Professional Optometric Degree Program
  

• Universidad Ana G. Mendez – Cupey Campus 
  San Juan, Puerto Rico 
  Stage One designation, Professional Optometric Degree Program
  

• University of North Carolina at Pembroke 
  Pembroke, North Carolina 
  Stage One designation, Professional Optometric Degree Program 

Preliminary Approval indicates a program can begin student recruitment, selection and admissions and to begin offering the program. Stage One designation is the first step in the process signifying that the proposed program has demonstrated a complete and sufficiently developed needs assessment, feasibility study and risk assessment. Programs with Stage One or Stage Two designations do not have authorization to begin recruitment or enrollment of students. 

Currently, no programs hold the Stage Two designation. 

Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions College of Optometry (RMUCO) in Provo, Utah, holds Preliminary Approval and enrolled its first class in May 2023. RMUCO will be considered by the ACOE for the granting of an accreditation status during the academic year that its first cohort is scheduled to graduate. The Utah school brought the total number of professional optometric degree programs in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico to 26. 

The purpose of ACOE accreditation standards 

The ACOE’s accreditation standards lay out expectations for these programs and assures all programs:  

• Have and monitor success in achieving their mission, goals and objectives.
• Have curricula that align with their mission, goals and objectives.
• Have research and scholarly activity supported.
• Have sufficient and qualified faculty in place.
• Have facilities, equipment and appropriate fiscal and administrative capacity.
• Have students who meet admissions criteria, admitted via an impartial process and provided adequate support and clinical experiences for the independent practice of contemporary optometry. 

Learn more about the ACOE and read about the council’s latest actions.