Charles F. Prentice Memorial Lecture--1976. Optometry curriculum patterns in Europe

The education and training of optometrists--more appropriately, ophthalmic opticians--in the western countries of the European continent differ in content and amount from that found in English-speaking countries, particularly the U. S. Current curriculum patterns for 12 European countries are presented. Formalized basic education before professional training averages 9.4 academic years; formalized course work, identified with curricula of schools of optics and optometry, averages 2.8 academic years; and required apprenticeship time averages about 2 years.