Colorado is a wonderful place to live and a great place to practice optometry. We invite you to get to know our state and the Colorado Optometric Association during your student years. If you're a recent graduate who is considering moving to practice in Colorado, the Colorado Optometric Association can be a valuable resource while making the transition.
Students can apply for their license in Colorado once you have your final transcript and have passed your final exams. Transcripts must be sent from your Optometry school via mail (1560 Broadway, Suite 1350, Denver, CO 80202) or e-mail (dora_optometryboard@state.co.us) to the Colorado State Board of Optometry Office of Licensing - Attn: Optometry Licensure.
You must take and pass the below examinations. Your application cannot be fully processed until NBEO sends your passing results directly to the Office of Licensing Attn: Optometry Licensure (dora_optometryboard@state.co.us OR 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350, Denver, CO 80202):
o Part I Basic Science
o Part II Clinical Science
o Part III Patient Care
AND
o Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease (TMOD)
All applications are submitted online here: https://apps.colorado.gov/dora/licensing/Default.aspx
If you love the outdoors, Colorado offers a diverse array of recreational opportunities. From hiking, biking and world-renowned skiing to water sports like kayaking, river rafting or world-class fishing, you can enjoy almost any sport here. Colorado boasts 18 million acres of state and national parks, forests and monuments. If you're more of a city dweller, Colorado has much to offer. Thriving metropolitan areas offer cultural events, museums, breweries, wineries and fine dining and shopping. The people of Colorado are friendly and helpful, and even in the large cities of our state, many people appreciate the small-town friendliness of Colorado's citizens.
To learn more about recreational opportunities in Colorado, go to www.colorado.com.
The profession of optometry in Colorado is as diverse as its landscape. Many new graduates find opportunities in the large metropolitan areas, but there are also many under served rural areas that need providers.
The scope of optometry practice in Colorado is one of the best in the nation. Practitioners in our state are able to treat a wide array of eye disease, and have a wide range of therapeutic tools to choose from.
Wherever you decide to practice, membership in your state optometric association and the American Optometric Association is of vital importance. Without our associations to represent us in legislative, third-party, health care reform and Medicare, our profession would not be the organized, effective force in health care that it is today. Because of our associations, and the optometrists in our associations before us, today's optometrists are able to provide to patients the highest level of optometric patient care in history.
In Colorado, we have been fortunate to have a long history of dedicated optometric leaders, a highly organized and motivated Association staff, and generations of volunteer optometrists who have worked tirelessly to ensure many of the privileges that we enjoy today in our practices.