A Message from the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners
Print this Article | Send to Colleague
A Message from the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners
On March 6, 2020, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency for the Commonwealth of Kentucky due to the COVID pandemic. Because of the shortage of healthcare providers in the state, the Governor directed licensing boards, including the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners (KBOE), to make provisions to assist new graduates in obtaining licenses to practice in Kentucky. To comply with the Governor’s directive the KBOE, in accordance with state law, allowed alternative testing for National Board parts 1 and 2 and discontinued the requirement of new graduates passing National Board part 3.
On March 21, 2022 the Kentucky State Legislature ended the state of emergency. Though the state of emergency lifted, at its meeting on November 4, 2022, the KBOE voted to uphold its February decision, which took place before the state of emergency was ended by the legislature and governor and return to no longer requiring those graduating from optometry schools and colleges in the Class of 2023 to pass Part III of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, including the Injections Skill Exam (ISE).
To reiterate the optometry school graduates in the class of 2023 will not be required to submit proof of completion of the part III and the ISE to be licensed in Kentucky. The KBOE does request that each school make this information available to its students. Please contact the KBOE office with any questions or issues.
