CA OPTOMETRY LAW EXAM LATEST 2026 – COMPLETE
450 REAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS (VERIFIED) GRADED A+ | PRACTICE EXAM &
TEST PREP (BRAND NEW!!)
1 What is the primary purpose of the California Optometry Practice Act?
a. To establish fees for optometric services
b. To regulate the practice of optometry to protect the public health, safety, and
welfare
c. To define the scope of practice for ophthalmologists
d. To certify optometric technicians
- Correct Answer- B
Rationale: The Optometry Practice Act is a set of laws (Business and Professions
Code sections 3000-3175) designed to regulate optometry and protect the public.
2 Under California law, the California State Board of Optometry is responsible for:
a. Issuing medical licenses to ophthalmologists
b. Licensing and regulating optometrists and enforcing the Optometry Practice
Act
c. Setting reimbursement rates for vision plans
d. Accrediting optometry schools
- Correct Answer- B
Rationale: The Board licenses optometrists, investigates complaints, disciplines
violators, and enforces the Act.
1|Page
,3 Which of the following is NOT a requirement for initial licensure as an
optometrist in California?
a. Graduation from an accredited optometry school
b. Passage of the NBEO examinations
c. Completion of a one-year residency in optometry
d. Passage of the California Law Examination (CLE)
- Correct Answer- C
Rationale: Residency is not required for initial licensure, though it may be
required for certain certification or therapeutic pharmaceutical agent (TPA)
privileges (grandfathered). Currently, TPA certification is part of the standard
curriculum.
4 The California Law Examination (CLE) for optometrists must be taken:
a. Before enrolling in optometry school
b. After passing all NBEO exams but before obtaining a license
c. During the final year of optometry school
d. After five years of practice
- Correct Answer- B
Rationale: The CLE is typically taken after NBEO Part III and before license
issuance.
5 What is the minimum age requirement for optometry licensure in California?
a. 18 years
b. 21 years
c. 25 years
d. No minimum age specified
2|Page
,- Correct Answer- D
Rationale: There is no minimum age specified in the Optometry Practice Act;
however, other requirements (education, exam passage) effectively set a
minimum age.
6 A licensed optometrist in California whose license has expired for more than
three years must:
a. Simply pay a late renewal fee
b. Retake and pass the NBEO examinations and the California Law Examination
c. Complete 50 hours of continuing education and pay a penalty
d. Apply for a new license as a first-time applicant
- Correct Answer- B
Rationale: Business and Professions Code section 3119: If license expired for more
than three years, the applicant must reapply and pass all examinations.
7 Continuing education (CE) requirements for California optometrists are:
a. 20 hours per year, with 10 hours in TPA and pharmacology
b. 30 hours per two-year renewal cycle, with specific hours in TPA and California
law
c. 50 hours per year, all in general optometry
d. No CE requirements after initial licensure
- Correct Answer- B
Rationale: 30 hours every two years (renewal cycle) including designated hours in
TPA/pharmacology and California law/ethics.
3|Page
, 8 Which of the following conditions is within the scope of practice for a California
optometrist with TPA certification?
a. Performing laser surgery on the retina
b. Diagnosing and treating glaucoma with topical medications
c. Performing incisional surgery of the eyelid
d. Prescribing oral medications for diabetes
- Correct Answer- B
Rationale: TPA-certified optometrists may diagnose and treat glaucoma using
topical medications but not laser or incisional surgery.
9 Under California law, an optometrist may prescribe which of the following oral
medications?
a. Oral antibiotics for bacterial conjunctivitis only
b. Oral antiviral agents for herpetic keratitis
c. Oral analgesics including schedule III narcotics
d. No oral medications; only topical are allowed
- Correct Answer- D
Rationale: As of 2026, California optometrists without additional certification
(therapeutic pharmaceutical agent certification allows topical but not oral. Some
states allow oral, but California restricts to topical. There is a separate oral
pharmaceutical agent (OPA) certification not yet active. For the purpose of this
exam, oral medications are not within standard TPA scope.)
10 An optometrist's license must be renewed every:
a. One year
b. Two years
4|Page
450 REAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS (VERIFIED) GRADED A+ | PRACTICE EXAM &
TEST PREP (BRAND NEW!!)
1 What is the primary purpose of the California Optometry Practice Act?
a. To establish fees for optometric services
b. To regulate the practice of optometry to protect the public health, safety, and
welfare
c. To define the scope of practice for ophthalmologists
d. To certify optometric technicians
- Correct Answer- B
Rationale: The Optometry Practice Act is a set of laws (Business and Professions
Code sections 3000-3175) designed to regulate optometry and protect the public.
2 Under California law, the California State Board of Optometry is responsible for:
a. Issuing medical licenses to ophthalmologists
b. Licensing and regulating optometrists and enforcing the Optometry Practice
Act
c. Setting reimbursement rates for vision plans
d. Accrediting optometry schools
- Correct Answer- B
Rationale: The Board licenses optometrists, investigates complaints, disciplines
violators, and enforces the Act.
1|Page
,3 Which of the following is NOT a requirement for initial licensure as an
optometrist in California?
a. Graduation from an accredited optometry school
b. Passage of the NBEO examinations
c. Completion of a one-year residency in optometry
d. Passage of the California Law Examination (CLE)
- Correct Answer- C
Rationale: Residency is not required for initial licensure, though it may be
required for certain certification or therapeutic pharmaceutical agent (TPA)
privileges (grandfathered). Currently, TPA certification is part of the standard
curriculum.
4 The California Law Examination (CLE) for optometrists must be taken:
a. Before enrolling in optometry school
b. After passing all NBEO exams but before obtaining a license
c. During the final year of optometry school
d. After five years of practice
- Correct Answer- B
Rationale: The CLE is typically taken after NBEO Part III and before license
issuance.
5 What is the minimum age requirement for optometry licensure in California?
a. 18 years
b. 21 years
c. 25 years
d. No minimum age specified
2|Page
,- Correct Answer- D
Rationale: There is no minimum age specified in the Optometry Practice Act;
however, other requirements (education, exam passage) effectively set a
minimum age.
6 A licensed optometrist in California whose license has expired for more than
three years must:
a. Simply pay a late renewal fee
b. Retake and pass the NBEO examinations and the California Law Examination
c. Complete 50 hours of continuing education and pay a penalty
d. Apply for a new license as a first-time applicant
- Correct Answer- B
Rationale: Business and Professions Code section 3119: If license expired for more
than three years, the applicant must reapply and pass all examinations.
7 Continuing education (CE) requirements for California optometrists are:
a. 20 hours per year, with 10 hours in TPA and pharmacology
b. 30 hours per two-year renewal cycle, with specific hours in TPA and California
law
c. 50 hours per year, all in general optometry
d. No CE requirements after initial licensure
- Correct Answer- B
Rationale: 30 hours every two years (renewal cycle) including designated hours in
TPA/pharmacology and California law/ethics.
3|Page
, 8 Which of the following conditions is within the scope of practice for a California
optometrist with TPA certification?
a. Performing laser surgery on the retina
b. Diagnosing and treating glaucoma with topical medications
c. Performing incisional surgery of the eyelid
d. Prescribing oral medications for diabetes
- Correct Answer- B
Rationale: TPA-certified optometrists may diagnose and treat glaucoma using
topical medications but not laser or incisional surgery.
9 Under California law, an optometrist may prescribe which of the following oral
medications?
a. Oral antibiotics for bacterial conjunctivitis only
b. Oral antiviral agents for herpetic keratitis
c. Oral analgesics including schedule III narcotics
d. No oral medications; only topical are allowed
- Correct Answer- D
Rationale: As of 2026, California optometrists without additional certification
(therapeutic pharmaceutical agent certification allows topical but not oral. Some
states allow oral, but California restricts to topical. There is a separate oral
pharmaceutical agent (OPA) certification not yet active. For the purpose of this
exam, oral medications are not within standard TPA scope.)
10 An optometrist's license must be renewed every:
a. One year
b. Two years
4|Page
