ST. LOUIS—The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) announced that as of January 1, 2025, the organization now recognizes new Professional Optometric Degree Program Standards applicable to both existing and prospective optometric degree programs, the result of the ACOE’s Comprehensive Standards Review process that was launched in December 2021. According to the announcement from the ACOE, the new standards are intended to ensure optometry students continue to receive a high-quality education with key updates, including the following:

Providing alignment. The new Standards replace what were previously two separate sets of standards—one set for developing programs seeking preliminary approval and one set for existing programs. The alignment in standards ensures a developing program understands the requirements it must adhere to once a program becomes operational, while holding the program to requirements commensurate with their development stage.

Linking terminology. The new standards incorporate terms defined by the ACOE’s Glossary, including several key or new terms, such as “contemporary optometry.” This helps set a clear benchmark applicable to all accredited programs.

Setting expectations for alternate pathways. The new standards define ACOE’s expectations for programs offering distance education or alternate pathways, e.g., a path that results in conferring a doctor of optometry degree that is distinct from the traditional program.

Showing evidence of standards adherence. The new standards stress adherence, reiterating that operational programs must go beyond establishing policies and procedures but also must provide evidence of adherence to those policies and procedures.

Focusing on continuous quality improvement. The new standards stress programs’ adoption of a continuous quality improvement cycle. This approach involves establishing benchmarks, conducting self-assessment to determine performance, identifying performance gaps and taking appropriate action in a continuous loop. 

“The standards for both proposed and existing professional optometric degree programs have never been more comprehensive or rigorous, and the ACOE has never been more focused on fulfilling its mission,” said G. Timothy Petito, OD, ACOE chair. “As directed by the U.S. Department of Education (DoE), which sets forth regulations to which recognized accreditors, including the ACOE, must adhere to, we follow the applicable regulations when establishing, maintaining and applying standards to assure the quality of optometric education. Part of the regulations require the ACOE to seek public comments on its standards, and we encourage the public, policy and public health experts, involved programs, and every doctor of optometry to offer comments and information to aid the ACOE in fulfilling its mission.”

As the exclusive accreditation body for professional optometric degree, residency and optometric technician programs in the U.S. and Canada, the ACOE is recognized by the DoE and Council on Higher Education Accreditation. The ACOE was most recently reaffirmed by the DoE in 2023.

In addition to the Professional Optometric Degree Program Standards that took effect on January 1, the ACOE’s new Optometric Residency Program Standards will take effect July 1, 2025.