How many residency programs are there?
Currently, there are over 150 residency programs affiliated with a school or college of optometry. At SCCO we currently have 16 programs. You can view a prospectus of all of our residency programs by going to our home page: www.scco.edu and assessing the link to our residency programs.
What types of residencies do you have?
Veteran’s Affairs (Loma Linda, CA; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA; West Los Angeles, CA; Salt Lake City, UT; Santa Barbara, CA; Sepulveda, CA; Southern Arizona)
Indian Health Services (Gallup-NM, Shiprock-NM, Crownpoint-NM, Sacaton-AZ, Rosebud-S. Dakota, Fort Yates-N. Dakota, Kayenta-AZ)
Low Vision Rehabilitation (Center for the Partially Sighted-Santa Monica, CA)
Cornea/Contact Lenses (Southern California College of Optometry)
Pediatric Optometry / Vision Therapy (Southern California College of Optometry)
What is the length of the training program and how much are residents paid?
Optometric residency programs, typically run for one year from the first of July to June 30 and provide a stipend that varies depending on the institution funding the program. For programs in the Department of Veterans Affairs, the stipend is currently is $25,750. Some programs also provide health benefits (reimbursement up to $1,000) and travel benefits (to national meetings – up to $500).
Can I defer my student loans while completing residency training?
Yes, student loans generally are deferrable while a student is in an accredited residency training program. It is the responsibility of the resident to secure and complete the necessary forms, which are available from financial institutions providing the educational loans.
Why should I do a residency?
The clinical experience and level of confidence you develop is tremendous. You also enhance your career opportunities once you have completed your residency. Teaching institutions, hospitals and co-management clinics are looking for people with advanced training. Regardless of the type of residency program, people find it to be a rewarding experience. If you have any desire to do a residency, you should pursue it and obtain as much information as you can. This is something you do not want to regret not doing!!
How can I find out more information about the residency programs that are available?
Contact the Director of Residencies at each of the schools and colleges of optometry for information regarding their programs. Also you can utilize the following websites to obtain more information.
Optometric Residency Matching Services, Inc. (ORMS)
http:// www.optometryresident.org
Association of Schools and College of Optometry
http://www.opted.org
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