CALIFORNIA OPTOMETRY LAW EXAM –
FULL STUDY GUIDE & REGULATORY
REVIEW (2025 EDITION)
Instructions: For each question, choose the single best answer.
1. Under the California Optometry Act, the practice of optometry includes the diagnosis,
prevention, and treatment of problems of which system?
A. The human eye
B. The human eye and its appendages
C. The visual system
D. The refractive and accommodative systems
Answer: C. The visual system ✓
2. A California-licensed optometrist is authorized to prescribe which of the following
controlled substances without additional certification?
A. Oral antivirals
B. Oral steroids
C. Schedule I drugs for research
D. None of the above; additional certification is required.
Answer: D. None of the above; additional certification is required. ✓
3. What is the maximum quantity of a Schedule III controlled substance that can be prescribed
by an optometrist for a patient who is not in immediate proximity to the doctor?
A. A 3-day supply
B. A 7-day supply
C. A 14-day supply
D. A 30-day supply
Answer: B. A 7-day supply ✓
4. The Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents (TPA) certification allows an optometrist to use and
prescribe:
A. All topical and oral medications
B. Only topical medications not requiring a prescription
C. Topical and oral pharmaceuticals as specified in the law
,D. Only diagnostic pharmaceutical agents
Answer: C. Topical and oral pharmaceuticals as specified in the law ✓
5. Which of the following is a requirement for an optometrist to administer immunizations?
A. Completion of a 32-hour board-approved course
B. A collaborative agreement with an MD
C. Certification in Lacrimal Irrigation and Dilation
D. This is not within an optometrist's scope of practice.
Answer: A. Completion of a 32-hour board-approved course ✓
6. An optometrist with a TPA certification may prescribe oral corticosteroids for a maximum
initial course of how many days?
A. 3 days
B. 5 days
C. 7 days
D. 14 days
Answer: C. 7 days ✓
7. The California State Board of Optometry requires licensees to complete how many hours of
continuing education (CE) for license renewal?
A. 20 hours every 2 years
B. 25 hours every 2 years
C. 30 hours every 2 years
D. 50 hours every 2 years
Answer: C. 30 hours every 2 years ✓
8. Within the 30 hours of CE for license renewal, how many must be in the subject of
glaucoma?
A. 2 hours
B. 5 hours
C. 8 hours
D. 10 hours
Answer: B. 5 hours ✓
9. An optometrist is required to report a patient diagnosed with which of the following to the
local health officer?
A. Bacterial Conjunctivitis
B. Trachoma
C. Dry Eye Syndrome
,D. All forms of Keratitis
Answer: B. Trachoma ✓
10. What is the minimum information that must be included on a prescription form?
A. Patient's name and date of birth
B. Prescriber's name, address, and telephone number
C. Prescriber's license number and signature
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above ✓
11. The "Glaucoma Certification" allows an optometrist to:
A. Diagnose and treat all forms of glaucoma
B. Diagnose and treat primary open-angle glaucoma, exfoliation glaucoma, and pigmentary
glaucoma
C. Only diagnose glaucoma and refer for treatment
D. Initiate treatment, but only with topical medications
Answer: B. Diagnose and treat primary open-angle glaucoma, exfoliation glaucoma, and
pigmentary glaucoma ✓
12. A patient's medical record must be maintained for a minimum of how many years after
the last patient encounter?
A. 3 years
B. 5 years
C. 7 years
D. 10 years
Answer: C. 7 years ✓
13. Which of the following procedures is within the scope of practice for a California
optometrist with the appropriate certifications?
A. Lacrimal irrigation and dilation
B. Removal of superficial foreign bodies from the cornea and conjunctiva
C. Use of an eyelid epilator for the management of trichiasis
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above ✓
14. When prescribing a contact lens, the prescriber must provide the patient with a copy of
the prescription:
A. Only if the patient asks for it
B. Only after the fitting is complete and payment is received
C. Upon completion of the fitting, without requiring the patient to ask
, D. At the initial diagnostic fitting
Answer: C. Upon completion of the fitting, without requiring the patient to ask ✓
15. The "required source" for verifying the current legal scope of practice for an optometrist
in California is:
A. The American Optometric Association (AOA) website
B. The California State Board of Optometry's laws and regulations
C. The California Medical Association (CMA) guidelines
D. The Optometric Practice Act of 1968
Answer: B. The California State Board of Optometry's laws and regulations ✓
16. An optometrist may delegate the performance of a computerized visual field test to a
properly trained:
A. Optometric assistant
B. Optometric technician
C. Medical assistant
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above ✓
17. Which of the following is considered unprofessional conduct?
A. Failing to maintain a patient's confidentiality
B. Habitual intemperance from the use of alcohol or drugs
C. Gross negligence
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above ✓
18. An optometrist who holds a TPA certification is authorized to prescribe which schedule of
controlled substances?
A. Schedules I through V
B. Schedules II through V
C. Schedules III through V
D. Schedules IV and V only
Answer: C. Schedules III through V ✓
19. For a patient under 16 years of age, a cycloplegic refraction is required how frequently?
A. Annually
B. At the initial examination and then as medically necessary
C. Every two years
D. It is never required, only recommended.
Answer: B. At the initial examination and then as medically necessary ✓
FULL STUDY GUIDE & REGULATORY
REVIEW (2025 EDITION)
Instructions: For each question, choose the single best answer.
1. Under the California Optometry Act, the practice of optometry includes the diagnosis,
prevention, and treatment of problems of which system?
A. The human eye
B. The human eye and its appendages
C. The visual system
D. The refractive and accommodative systems
Answer: C. The visual system ✓
2. A California-licensed optometrist is authorized to prescribe which of the following
controlled substances without additional certification?
A. Oral antivirals
B. Oral steroids
C. Schedule I drugs for research
D. None of the above; additional certification is required.
Answer: D. None of the above; additional certification is required. ✓
3. What is the maximum quantity of a Schedule III controlled substance that can be prescribed
by an optometrist for a patient who is not in immediate proximity to the doctor?
A. A 3-day supply
B. A 7-day supply
C. A 14-day supply
D. A 30-day supply
Answer: B. A 7-day supply ✓
4. The Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents (TPA) certification allows an optometrist to use and
prescribe:
A. All topical and oral medications
B. Only topical medications not requiring a prescription
C. Topical and oral pharmaceuticals as specified in the law
,D. Only diagnostic pharmaceutical agents
Answer: C. Topical and oral pharmaceuticals as specified in the law ✓
5. Which of the following is a requirement for an optometrist to administer immunizations?
A. Completion of a 32-hour board-approved course
B. A collaborative agreement with an MD
C. Certification in Lacrimal Irrigation and Dilation
D. This is not within an optometrist's scope of practice.
Answer: A. Completion of a 32-hour board-approved course ✓
6. An optometrist with a TPA certification may prescribe oral corticosteroids for a maximum
initial course of how many days?
A. 3 days
B. 5 days
C. 7 days
D. 14 days
Answer: C. 7 days ✓
7. The California State Board of Optometry requires licensees to complete how many hours of
continuing education (CE) for license renewal?
A. 20 hours every 2 years
B. 25 hours every 2 years
C. 30 hours every 2 years
D. 50 hours every 2 years
Answer: C. 30 hours every 2 years ✓
8. Within the 30 hours of CE for license renewal, how many must be in the subject of
glaucoma?
A. 2 hours
B. 5 hours
C. 8 hours
D. 10 hours
Answer: B. 5 hours ✓
9. An optometrist is required to report a patient diagnosed with which of the following to the
local health officer?
A. Bacterial Conjunctivitis
B. Trachoma
C. Dry Eye Syndrome
,D. All forms of Keratitis
Answer: B. Trachoma ✓
10. What is the minimum information that must be included on a prescription form?
A. Patient's name and date of birth
B. Prescriber's name, address, and telephone number
C. Prescriber's license number and signature
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above ✓
11. The "Glaucoma Certification" allows an optometrist to:
A. Diagnose and treat all forms of glaucoma
B. Diagnose and treat primary open-angle glaucoma, exfoliation glaucoma, and pigmentary
glaucoma
C. Only diagnose glaucoma and refer for treatment
D. Initiate treatment, but only with topical medications
Answer: B. Diagnose and treat primary open-angle glaucoma, exfoliation glaucoma, and
pigmentary glaucoma ✓
12. A patient's medical record must be maintained for a minimum of how many years after
the last patient encounter?
A. 3 years
B. 5 years
C. 7 years
D. 10 years
Answer: C. 7 years ✓
13. Which of the following procedures is within the scope of practice for a California
optometrist with the appropriate certifications?
A. Lacrimal irrigation and dilation
B. Removal of superficial foreign bodies from the cornea and conjunctiva
C. Use of an eyelid epilator for the management of trichiasis
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above ✓
14. When prescribing a contact lens, the prescriber must provide the patient with a copy of
the prescription:
A. Only if the patient asks for it
B. Only after the fitting is complete and payment is received
C. Upon completion of the fitting, without requiring the patient to ask
, D. At the initial diagnostic fitting
Answer: C. Upon completion of the fitting, without requiring the patient to ask ✓
15. The "required source" for verifying the current legal scope of practice for an optometrist
in California is:
A. The American Optometric Association (AOA) website
B. The California State Board of Optometry's laws and regulations
C. The California Medical Association (CMA) guidelines
D. The Optometric Practice Act of 1968
Answer: B. The California State Board of Optometry's laws and regulations ✓
16. An optometrist may delegate the performance of a computerized visual field test to a
properly trained:
A. Optometric assistant
B. Optometric technician
C. Medical assistant
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above ✓
17. Which of the following is considered unprofessional conduct?
A. Failing to maintain a patient's confidentiality
B. Habitual intemperance from the use of alcohol or drugs
C. Gross negligence
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above ✓
18. An optometrist who holds a TPA certification is authorized to prescribe which schedule of
controlled substances?
A. Schedules I through V
B. Schedules II through V
C. Schedules III through V
D. Schedules IV and V only
Answer: C. Schedules III through V ✓
19. For a patient under 16 years of age, a cycloplegic refraction is required how frequently?
A. Annually
B. At the initial examination and then as medically necessary
C. Every two years
D. It is never required, only recommended.
Answer: B. At the initial examination and then as medically necessary ✓
