State board allows optometry graduates to practice without passing national exam

By: Deborah Yetter

Outlets: Kentucky Lantern

Published: June 2, 2026

Words: 1,527

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 3 days ago

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The state board that oversees Kentucky’s optometrists is standing by its decision to allow optometry graduates who haven’t passed all parts of a required national licensure exam to provide eye care – even as the number of people it improperly granted licenses to has increased from 21 to 30.

Despite mounting criticism, the state board will allow those optometrists to keep practicing while it works to resolve licensure deficiencies, Dr. Mary Beth Morris, president of …

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