Career Options for New Optometrists

Optometry school graduates are faced with a number of options when it comes to their futures. There are a number of career paths that they could follow in order to become professional optometrists, and all of them have their own pros and cons. This article will introduce you to some of the basic career options available and provide a brief description of the benefits and drawbacks of each option.

Start a Practice

Many young optometrists have the idea in their minds that they will one day work for themselves in their own clinic. While this is a great thing to aspire to, it can be difficult to do on your own immediately after graduating from optometry school. Starting a private practice requires upfront funds, which is a big financial risk. Plus, many patients are looking for an optometrist with years of experience, so it can be difficult for you to find patients for your new practice when you're a new doctor.

The risks of starting a private practice are high, but the rewards can be as well. As the owner of the business, you will get to reap the bulk of the profits if your clinic is successful. Plus, you'll have flexibility in your schedule because you'll be your own boss.

If you're completely set on starting your own practice right after school, start looking for optometry practice loans to fund your endeavor. You may also want to consider finding a partner for your business. This can reduce the financial burden on you by allowing you to share the risk with another person. Plus, if you find a partner who actually has some experience under their belt, they may have connections that can make it easier for you to find patients for your new practice.

Join a Private Practice

Another option you can consider is to join up with an existing private practice. Many optometrists look to hire recent optometry school graduates as junior partners in their clinics. This allows you to work in the field under an experienced doctor and gain valuable experience. 

Of course, you'll be on a set salary, so you won't reap high dividends if the clinic is doing well. However, this offers you a level of financial stability that is difficult to find when starting your own practice. It can make for a great starting point for a young optometrist, allowing you to gain vital knowledge and experience that you could use to start your own practice sometime down the road.

Join the Military

Almost every branch of the military has a need for optometrists. These professionals provide optometry services to enlisted service members and their families, and may even have roles in overseas efforts, like setting up medical bases and providing optometry care in underdeveloped countries. The military provides a very stable career path for optometrists, and you can spend your entire working life in the military without fear of job loss or financial crisis.

Of course, the military isn't for everyone. Most branches of service will have you and your family relocating to a new area every few years. Oftentimes, these new stations will be in foreign countries, and not everyone wishes to move around that much. Keep in mind though that coming in as an optometrist will make you an officer, affording you more say in the places that you move. Some military optometrists are able to choose their next station so that they don't have to move their families overseas.

These are just 3 options you can pursue after graduating from optometry school. Just make sure that if you want to open your own practice, you plan ahead and start looking for optometry practice loans as early as possible.

Source : articlesbase.com