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The cheapest state to get a optometrist license is Idaho at $100. The most expensive is California at $575. The national average is $237.
Lowest
$100
Idaho
Average
$237
across 51 states
Median
$200
29 states at or below
Range
$475
spread across states
| # | State | Renewal Fee | Initial Fees | Renewal Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Idaho | $100 | $4535 | 1 year |
| #1 | Indiana | $100 | $4735 | 2 years |
| #1 | Missouri | $100 | $4635 | 2 years (November 1 to October 31 of each even-numbered year) |
| #1 | Utah | $100 | $4635 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #1 | Wisconsin | $100 | $4635 | 2 years (biennial); renewal date is 12/14 of odd years |
| #6 | Mississippi | $150 | $4735 | 1 year |
| #6 | Rhode Island | $150 | $4735 | 1 year (annual renewal; applications due by January 31 each year, license effective February 1) |
| #6 | South Carolina | $150 | $4735 | 2 years |
| #6 | Tennessee | $150 | $4835 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #6 | Vermont | $150 | $4735 | 2 years |
| #11 | Virginia | $165 | $4735 | Annual (1 year) |
| #12 | Nebraska | $175 | $4685 | 2 years (licenses expire August 1 of even-numbered years) |
| #12 | New Mexico | $175 | $4735 | 1 year (annual renewal by July 1) |
| #12 | Oklahoma | $175 | $4735 | Annual (1 year) |
| #12 | Oregon | $175 | $4685 | 1 year |
| #16 | Pennsylvania | $179 | $4735 | Biennial (2 years) |
| #17 | Kentucky | $190 | $5435 | 1 year (annual); licenses expire March 1 each year |
| #18 | Michigan | $191 | $4992 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #19 | Colorado | $195 | $4735 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #20 | Georgia | $200 | $4955 | 2 years |
| #20 | Iowa | $200 | $4935 | 2 years |
| #20 | Kansas | $200 | $4682 | 2 years (annual CE cycle: June 1–May 31) |
| #20 | Maine | $200 | $4935 | 1 year |
| #20 | Minnesota | $200 | $4730 | 2 years |
| #20 | New Hampshire | $200 | $4735 | Annual — confirmed by the CE page requirement of '50 hours every year' |
| #20 | North Carolina | $200 | $4835 | Annual (1 year) |
| #20 | Ohio | $200 | $4835 | 2 years |
| #20 | West Virginia | $200 | $4735 | 2 years |
| #20 | Wyoming | $200 | $4735 | 2 years (cycle ends December 31 of odd years) |
| #30 | South Dakota | $225 | $4735 | 3 years |
| #31 | Hawaii | $242 | $4549 | 2 years |
| #32 | Delaware | $247 | $5039 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #33 | North Dakota | $250 | $4735 | 2 years |
| #34 | Washington | $260 | $4835 | 2 years |
| #35 | Texas | $271 | $4835 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #36 | Connecticut | $275 | $5465 | 1 year (annual) |
| #37 | Florida | $280 | $5503 | Biennial (2-year); current cycle expires 02/28/2027 |
| #38 | New York | $283 | $5077 | 3 years |
| #39 | Alabama | $300 | $5335 | Annual (licenses must be renewed by December 31 each year) |
| #39 | Arizona | $300 | $4935 | 2 years |
| #39 | Arkansas | $300 | $5135 | 1 year (annual) |
| #39 | Illinois | $300 | $5335 | 2 years |
| #39 | Montana | $300 | $4735 | 2 years |
| #44 | Massachusetts | $305 | $5255 | 1 year |
| #45 | New Jersey | $310 | $4785 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #46 | Alaska | $400 | $5635 | 2 years |
| #46 | Louisiana | $400 | $5335 | 1 year |
| #48 | District of Columbia | $432 | $5056 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #49 | Maryland | $457 | $4935 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #50 | Nevada | $500 | $4935 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #51 | California | $575 | $4893 | 2 years |
Renewal fees are per renewal cycle as reported by state licensing boards. Where fee ranges are listed, the lower bound is used for ranking. Click any state for full renewal details.
Idaho has the lowest renewal fee at $100. The national average renewal fee is $237.
There is significant variation across the 51 states with data. Values range from $100 to $575, with a median of $200.
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