Fact Sheet

WHAT DO THE LETTERS AFTER AN OPTOMETRIST'S LICENSE MEAN?

After an optometrist has been issued a license to practice optometry in the State of California, he/she may obtain certifications that allow the optometrist to provide certain additional optometric procedures and services. Such certifications are listed immediately to the right of the doctor's license number. The five different certification designations and their meanings are listed below.

DPA

The DPA designation indicates that the optometrist is certified to use diagnostic pharmaceutical agents for examination purposes only.

TPA

The TPA designation indicates that the optometrist is certified to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents and the optometrist may treat certain conditions of the human eye, or any of its appendages, with therapeutic pharmaceutical agents. The optometrist may also perform certain procedures on the eye. The therapeutic pharmaceutical agents that may be prescribed, the conditions of the eye, and the authorized procedures are listed in California Business and Professions Code Section 3041.

TPL

The TPL designation indicates that, in addition to the optometric services described in the TPA section above, the optometrist is also certified to perform lacrimal irrigation and dilation procedures for patients over the age of 12 years.

TPG

The TPG designation indicates that, in addition to the optometric services described in the TPA section above, the optometrist is also certified to diagnose and treat primary open angle glaucoma in patients over the age of 18 years.

TLG

The TLG designation indicates that, in addition to the optometric services described in the TPA section above, the optometrist is also certified to perform lacrimal irrigation and dilation procedures for patients over the age of 12 years and diagnose and treat primary open angle glaucoma in patients over the age of 18 years.