What's the best area of the U.S. to practice

[missbrightside]

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Hi what are your opinions on the best regions of the U.S. to practice optometry? I am talking about in terms of getting a job out of school, and eventually establishing your career, where there's a market for optometrists in that area, or where you'll be able to land a job. I heard that in SoCal (where I am) the optometry market is saturated, and I can see that is true because there's an optometrist office on nearly every block of my city.

I'm wondering this b/c i am trying to choose which school to attend, one in massachusetts, vs. ICO in chicago, vs. SCCO. (how's the optometry market in new england area?)
I am somewhat choosing the school keeping in mind the fact that I may end up living (forever) in that region where I attend optometry school, due to networking and going to the local clinics, etc.
THANKS
(p.s. if a thread like this already exists please link me to it)

 

[optsuker]

Traditionally, the worst saturation is anywhere with an optometry school, so I wouldn't use that to figure where to attend.
California has the triple threat of saturation, some of the worst conditions to practice (weak optometry laws & a bad insurance situation), & a high cost of living.

Depends what you're looking for, but in general, make a list of the last places you'd want to live, and they're probably going to be some of the best to practice successfully.
Texas, aside from the 4-5 biggest cities, has a lot of opportunity.
States where licensing is more protective/difficult: NC, SC, FL

The true gold mines, though, are finding a rural Midwest community with the lone OD there looking to retire.
Not uncommon to see $250K+/per year & a cost of living that's a fraction of the east & west coast.
The owner will often finance the sale, help you get started, & $300K will buy the biggest house in town.

 

[Rain Clouds]

You're not going to be stuck forever in the market where you go to school. Like the past poster alluded to, cities and regions with an optometry school generally need optometrists the *least*. What you really want to do is choose a place where you want to actually live and practice and start networking with doctors there. People start talking market saturation a little too much when they 1) don't know anyone in the area, and 2) don't have anything new to bring to the table. Market saturation is something you can overcome if you work at it, whether it's by building strong connections, setting yourself apart from the competition, or by moving to an adjacent market that's a little more open.

Just don't live where you're working. Work where you can really live.

 

[Loptometriste]

Just don't live where you're working. Work where you can really live.

 

[Neelam7]

Ha ha! Loptometriste, I love the picture and the quote! I want to put that as a poster on my wall in my office one day! 🙂

 

[310]

sc is really easy to get licensed in and has worse wages than nc.

Traditionally, the worst saturation is anywhere with an optometry school, so I wouldn't use that to figure where to attend.
California has the triple threat of saturation, some of the worst conditions to practice (weak optometry laws & a bad insurance situation), & a high cost of living.

Depends what you're looking for, but in general, make a list of the last places you'd want to live, and they're probably going to be some of the best to practice successfully.
Texas, aside from the 4-5 biggest cities, has a lot of opportunity.
States where licensing is more protective/difficult: NC, SC, FL

The true gold mines, though, are finding a rural Midwest community with the lone OD there looking to retire.
Not uncommon to see $250K+/per year & a cost of living that's a fraction of the east & west coast.
The owner will often finance the sale, help you get started, & $300K will buy the biggest house in town.

 

[Optometry Master]

There is absolutely no place in the U.S. where optometrists are in short supply. There are two or ten or 50 OD's (all competing with each other) in every little small town in America. There is a total excess of optometrists due to a 30+% increase in school enrollments and fewer and fewer old ODs retiring--- all this with very little population growth.

There was an oversupply BEFORE all the new schools opened. Now it's just rediculous, all but insuring new graduates a lifetime in Mallwart.

 

[fjpod]

All of that is debatable, highly debatable.

 

[RadixLuminogen]

There is absolutely no place in the U.S. where optometrists are in short supply. There are two or ten or 50 OD's (all competing with each other) in every little small town in America. There is a total excess of optometrists due to a 30+% increase in school enrollments and fewer and fewer old ODs retiring--- all this with very little population growth.

There was an oversupply BEFORE all the new schools opened. Now it's just rediculous, all but insuring new graduates a lifetime in Mallwart.

Welcome back Jason K

 

[miyanjinges]

me too,I love the picture and the quote! I want to put that as a poster on my wall in my office one day!