Licensure: Requirements, Application, Examination, Reciprocity and Endorsement
Eligibility and examination
Missouri licensure requires graduation from an optometry school accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education, successful completion of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry examinations the board requires, and passage of a Missouri jurisprudence examination. The applicant files the board's application, pays the fee, and submits fingerprints or a background check as directed. Good moral character and freedom from disqualifying conduct are considered.
Endorsement is not automatic reciprocity
A licensee from another state may apply by endorsement. The board compares the other state's requirements with Missouri's, reviews the applicant's examination history and disciplinary record, and may require the jurisprudence examination or additional documentation. Missouri does not issue a license merely because another state did; the board retains discretion.
The application file
Treat the file as evidence. Inconsistent employment dates, an unreported license in another state, or a closed complaint can become a fraud-in-application issue even years later. Update the board when circumstances change during the application.
Worked example. An optometrist licensed in Illinois for ten years applies by endorsement. She graduated from an accredited school, passed the national board examinations, and has no discipline. The board verifies her license and scores, requires the Missouri jurisprudence exam, and licenses her after she passes. The Illinois license alone did not entitle her to a Missouri license.
Traps. Confusing reciprocity with an automatic transfer; assuming old national board scores are always accepted without board review; omitting a prior license or a dismissed complaint; missing the jurisprudence exam because the candidate passed the national boards.