The professional requirements of Optometry certification vary from country to country. The education process can require a four-year bachelor's degree followed by a four-year postgraduate course before a student gets to the examination.

The path to Optometry in the United States is more time intensive than in many other countries. American students must complete a specific bachelor's degree program that includes a variety of health, science, and math credits. This bachelor's degree must be followed by a postgraduate Optometry program at one of the over 20 certified schools. Finally, the newly-minted Optometrist must pass a nationally administered examination before receiving his or her accreditation.

At the other end of the spectrum, an Argentinian student with a bachelor's degree must simply pass an examination and before registering with the government. While this process still requires a four year college degree, the only postgraduate component is the national examination. Though there is a wide spectrum of requirements depending on the country, it is rare that a student may become a certified Optometrist without a bachelor's degree, no matter the country in which he or she wishes to practice Optometry.