The Board honors and supports our military personnel and veterans and wishes to thank them for the sacrifices that they and their families have made on behalf of our nation. In accordance with Chapter 55 of the Occupations Code, the Board has adopted rules to streamline the licensing of military service members, their spouses, and military veterans.
Contact the Board for any questions not answered below.
Active Military Service Member, Military Veteran, or Military Spouse
This application process applies to applicants who are a military service member, military veteran, or military spouse as defined in Texas Occupations Code Chapter 55 who
- hold a current license issued by another state that is similar in scope of practice to a Texas optometric license and is in good standing with that state’s licensing authority ; or
- within the five years preceding the application date held a Texas optometric license.
Waiver of Application and Examination Fees
If qualified under state law, the Board waives application fees for military service members, their spouses, and veterans. As examinations are handled by outside vendors, examination fees (including the jurisprudence exam) can not be waived.
Once the application is approved and a license is issued, military/veteran applicants must pay the required initial licensing fee (currently set at $271.36). The license will expire on December 31 of the following year.
Scope of Practice
The Board has sole discretion in determining whether an applicant’s out-of-state license is similar in scope to a license issued by the Board. Applicants coming from states with a higher scope of practice may only practice to the extent allowed by Texas law.
Credit Toward Education, Training, and Experience Requirement
To protect the health and safety of the citizens of this state, a license to practice optometry requires the licensee to obtain a doctorate degree in optometry and passing scores on lengthy and complex nationally accepted examinations. An alternative method to demonstrate competency is not available at this time.
How to Apply
If applying online, submit the appropriate application (acceptance or LWOE) but do NOT pay the application fee. Once you have submitted the application, contact the Board with proof of military service (and marriage license, if applicable) so that the application fee can be removed from your account.
If applying via a paper application, include proof of military service (and marriage license, if applicable) when mailing the completed application. Do not include a form of payment.
Provisional License
Beginning in September 2025, state law requires the Board to issue military service members, spouses, veterans a provisional license to practice while an application is being processed. That provisional license is good for 180 days or when the license is issued, whichever is shorter.
Provisional licenses are not searchable in the Board’s database but are posted on the Verification page.
Renewal Requirements
In addition to the above license eligibility accommodations, statute allows military service members up to two years additional time to complete all continuing education and other requirements to renew their license with the Board. Further, the Board will not impose any surcharge or increase in renewal fees for military service members who fail to renew their license in a timely manner because they were actively serving in the military at the time of renewal.
Recognition of Out-Of-State License
As the application for a full Texas license is free, the Board encourages military service members and spouses to apply for a license in lieu of a recognition of an out-of-state license outlined below.
Military service members and their spouses (but not veterans) who hold a license in good standing in another jurisdiction may engage in their occupation without obtaining a Texas license. Before doing so, the service member or spouse must apply (ADD PDF) to the Board of the intent to practice without a Texas license and receive official recognition from the Board that statutory requirements are met. The license held in the other jurisdiction must be of a similar scope of practice to the Texas license.
A service member or their spouse may only practice under this recognition for the period during which the military service member is stationed at a Texas military installation.
A service member or military spouse with a recognized licensed is subject to the enforcement authority granted under the Texas Optometry Act, and the laws and regulations applicable to a regularly licensed provider.
In order to ensure the public can determine if a person is recognized to practice therapeutic optometry in Texas, the agency will post the person’s out of state license on its website. The person is not considered licensed by the Board and no license verifications will be issued.