Optometric Residency Programs

Resources and information for the 2017 Standards

Optometric residency standards effective July 1, 2017, updated May 2021. Use of these standards is mandatory for all programs being evaluated on or after July 1, 2017.  These Standards expire June 30, 2025 and are replaced by the new 2025 Standards below.

Clarification of Residency Specialty and Areas of Emphasis

Clarification of 5.1.1 of 2017 Optometric Residency Standards

Modification of Examples of Evidence 2.1 and 2.4 Optometric Residency Standards

Modification of Examples of Evidence of 3.5 of 2017 Optometric Residency Standards

ACOE Residency Self-Study Working DRAFT Template 2017 Standards, has been created as a working document to allow for collaboration of participants involved in preparing the narrative to share comments via "track changes" feature in Microsoft Word and to use spell check and other features that aren't available in protected documents. Use of this document is optional; programs may instead use the ACOE Residency FINAL Version Self-Study 2017 Standards. The template for the 2025 Optometric Residency Program Standards is linked above in the 2025 Standards section.

ACOE Residency FINAL Version Self-Study 2017 Standards is the document that must be submitted with appendices. This is a Word-protected document. Programs using the self-study working draft template are required to cut and paste the final narrative into this protected Word document and submit it with all appendices. Coming soon – templates for the 2025 Optometric Residency Program Standards are under development.

Guidelines for Electronic Submission of an Optometric Residency Self-Study provides guidelines for residencies to submit self-studies electronically.

Guidelines for Conducting a Residency Annual Review

Resources and information for the 2025 Standards

2025 Optometric Residency Program Standards (adopted October 2023, updated February 2025). Beginning July 1, 2025, all optometric residency programs must demonstrate compliance with these Standards.  Programs may opt to be evaluated under the new 2025 Standards prior to July 1, 2025. 

Summary of Changes between the 2017 Standards and the 2025 Standards (updated February 2025).

ACOE March 15, 2024 memo regarding Examples of Evidence for 2025 Optometric Residency Standards 2.2 and 2.3.

Frequently Asked Questions about the 2025 Residency Standards (March 2025). The FAQs are a resource for programs, evaluation visit team members, Council members and the public, promoting clarity and consistency in the interpretation and application of the ACOE’s Accreditation Standards. 

ACOE Residency Self-Study Template 2025 Standards (March 2025). The template provides programs with instructions, guidance, and a format to use when developing a self-study. The template is structured to emphasize that the submission of evidence is the primary mechanism to demonstrate compliance with the Standards.

ACOE March 24, 2025 Memo related to Guidance and Resources for Residency Programs.