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/military spouse/veteran applicants must pay the required initial licensing fee (currently set at $271.36). An “active” license will be issued and will expire on December 31 of the following year. An active license allows the person to practice at any location in Texas.
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 Active License
Beginning in September 2025, state law requires the Board to issue military service members, spouses, veterans a provisional active license to practice while an application is being processed. That provisional license is valid 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.
Letter of Recognition of Out-Of-State License (Temporary License)
Military service members and military spouses who hold a license in good standing in another U.S. jurisdiction may engage in their occupation without obtaining a Texas license. Before doing so, the service member or spouse must apply 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.
This method will allow you to receive an authorization letter to work in Texas, based on your out-of-state license and for the duration of the time you are stationed in Texas. If you elect to use this method, you may not claim to be licensed as an optometrist in Texas. If a patient asks, you must explain that you are licensed in another state but are authorized to work in Texas.
- Issued a letter confirming the authority to practice in Texas
- No application fee
- No jurisprudence examination
- No criminal history background check
- Valid for as long as the military service member is stationed in Texas
- In the event of a divorce or similar event that affects a person’s status as a spouse, a former spouse may continue to engage in the business or occupation until the third anniversary of the date the former spouse received the confirmation
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.
A service member or military spouse with a recognized licensed who is treating Texas patients is subject to the enforcement authority granted under the Texas Optometry Act, and the laws and regulations applicable to a licensed provider in Texas.
Military Recognition of Out-of-State License Application (PDF)