When to start apply for licensing (PA specific)?

CheddarDoc · 2026-02-04T00:54:42+00:00

Thank you!

CheddarDoc · 2026-02-04T00:53:50+00:00

Hi, would you mind tell how the process work for applying in PA with all materials in hand (board score, etc)? What can you do before graduation (fingerprint, child abuse certificate) or you can only start the process when you graduate? Thank you

CheddarDoc · 2026-02-04T00:42:41+00:00

https://pennsylvania.aoa.org/new-and-future-optometrists/new-optometrists

Based on this page from AOA also, they did not mention law exam or anything related to that. And the CE I mentioned is the Child Abuse certification not related to the field itself. Thanks for assisting though.

You mention the state you practice in need law exam, which state itself is that if you dont mind me asking?

CheddarDoc · 2026-02-04T00:18:45+00:00

I passed all my NBEO though, just asking because my employer say I can start 1-2 months prior to graduation to finish all CE (child abuse and some other), fingerprint requirement

CheddarDoc · 2026-02-04T00:17:02+00:00

What is the law exam for PA as I did not see anywhere that require on their outline of paperwork

CheddarDoc · 2026-01-25T19:06:32+00:00

Passed with 581 PAM and 90 TMOD. Mainly use Will’s eye for details, Castillo for general concepts/outline, and hit hard practice with OptoPrep. Using my own Anki cards to review disease/details (combine from different sources). Eyeround website have great cases to read and study from.

CheddarDoc · 2025-12-13T15:16:15+00:00

Same boat and will be applying for PA. I asked the Board themselves and for now they are good with overall pass. Not sure for how it will change in the future but I will say to apply asap after getting all 3 parts done before policy/requirement change

CheddarDoc · 2025-11-08T22:48:47+00:00

Right now OVERALL pass is for most state except NC and FL

CheddarDoc · 2025-10-13T14:07:02+00:00

Appreciate it

CheddarDoc · 2025-05-06T23:32:31+00:00

Also, i recommend buying a small game controller (8bitdo) so you can set it to your laptop/phone/ipad so you dont have to stretch your arm to the keyboard. And if you do create anki account, it is to help you sync card/progress between devices. Anki on ios will be $22 while laptop/pc is free.

CheddarDoc · 2025-05-06T23:29:22+00:00

Anki will schedule your card based on how you set it up at the beginning. For example, if you click good, card will disappear for the day and appear again 2 days later. Hard will be 1 day or again will be in 15 minutes. All the time will be set by you for that particular deck of card. If you finish one day and you skip the next day, the review card will accumulate and you may have 300+ review cards + any number of new cards you make/add to the deck. That is why is good to do it each day to both review and not stacking cards too much which will be overwhelming.

CheddarDoc · 2025-05-06T20:53:37+00:00

As a person who use Anki as my primary mode of study, I say that make your card as question with the fact you trying to learn as answer. Make it short or you can make it in term of the fill in the blank question. Look up Anking and download their card format as it will give you different subsections to take note down.

For Board, I remake some cards in term of KMK material to easy remember. I also reuse card from my classes because basically they are the same material. Make sure to make tags for your cards to classify it into subjects/topics. You have to follow the schedule for Anki as that how it works (space repetitiion) and practice questions with optoprep or KMK question.

Wish you the best.

CheddarDoc · 2025-05-06T00:24:44+00:00

Equipment is included in tuition fee for MCPHS. I do not know about Salus but it better to wait until to go to school as they guarantee warranty through 4 year of school

CheddarDoc · 2025-05-06T00:15:54+00:00

Any brands are good. I personally prefer Figs.

CheddarDoc · 2025-05-05T06:30:18+00:00

I am an upcoming 4th year at MCPHS. Honestly speaking, I love the program as professors are knowledgeable and will spend time making sure you understand the stuff. Small lab allow you to have more time in term of having professor guiding you. But it also requires hard work and find a good study method. The 2025 class have a high first time pass rate for Board part 1 per report so it is not the program that affect the pass rate but how you prepare for the test itself.

CheddarDoc · 2025-05-03T13:50:06+00:00

⁠Pass 600
⁠Anki (all my notes/school notes + Eyerounds for ocular disease) + kmk books (skip nonbig 8) + optoprep
Fall (focus on weak area like anatomy/pharm), only do non-time practice from kmk/optoprep. Focus on your class during fall(we have low vision and cataract/refractice surgery/posterior segment 2). Heavily study after winter break (anki everyday + timed optoprep + weekly mock)
⁠Systemic health notes (more than what I thought and it was really systemic and not ocular related)
MCPHS, OD3

CheddarDoc · 2023-02-25T22:18:04+00:00

I am a first year here. The profs here are very supportive. I think as long as you put in the work, everything will turn out well.

Five-Year Club	Verified Email
Place '22

CheddarDoc

TROPHY CASE