1. Apply for You License ASAP
After you graduate, the first thing you need to do is apply for a license. Do that the same date after you graduate or within the first month after you graduate.
Reason why you need to apply for it ASAP:
– It could take 30 to 60 days or even longer before you get the license to practice in the state which you’re going to be practicing.
– It could also take time for your school to get you the information so you can pass it on to the state and get your license.
2. Start establishing in your local area.
In order to do that, you need to be involved in the local community through clubs, organizations, and leadership roles. If it’s back home, get to know people that you left home with and start having coffee, dinner or just simply getting acquainted with them. Another thing is to be involved in community service such as rotary, lions, etc. and start forming relationships with the members. Building you network early is very important. It will be extremely helpful when you’re looking for an attorney to look over contracts that you need to be involved with as soon as you get out of school or an accountant to manage your practice finances.
3. Be involved in the optometric community.
You can do this by getting a hold of the state organization, and becoming involved. Also get a hold of local individuals in organized optometry. One way to do this as a student (if you want to work in the state you go to school in) is to work as a technician for a practice you’re interested in. As you build a presence there, you could potentially create a full-time job opportunity for when you graduate.
