(a) An applicant
for a license by examination to practice optometry, with the prescriptive
authority as described in
AS
08.72.272, must submit or ensure the
submission of
(1) a completed and notarized
application on a form provided by the department;
(2) documentation showing that the applicant
has passed, not earlier than the four years immediately preceding the date of
application, all parts of the examinations required in
12 AAC 48.015(a)(1) and
(2) sent directly to the department from the
National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO); if the applicant ha graduated
in accordance with (3) of this subsection two years or more before the date of
the application, the applicant must provide verification of the completion of
36 hours of approved continuing education taken not earlier than the two years
immediately preceding the date of application, in ocular pathology or
pharmacology that meets the requirements of
12 AAC
48.210(b);
(3) college transcripts verifying graduation
from a recognized school or college of optometry, sent directly to the
department from the institution;
(4) if the applicant has been licensed in
another jurisdiction, verification of licensure, including the disposition on
any disciplinary action taken or pending against the applicant, from each
licensing jurisdiction in which the applicant holds or has ever held an
optometry license;
(5) the
applicable fees required by
12 AAC 02.300;
(6) the completed Alaska State Optometry Law
Examination required under
12 AAC 48.015; and
(8) references from three individuals not
related to the applicant by blood or marriage attesting to the applicant's good
moral character and capacity to competently and safely practice optometry; the
reference must be on a form provided by the department, signed before a notary,
and sent directly to the department by the individual providing the reference;
to be eligible to provide a reference under this paragraph, the individual must
be one of the following:
(A) an optometrist
currently licensed in this state or another state or territory of the United
States or in a province of Canada;
(B) an instructor or official from the
applicant's school of optometry;
(C) a supervisor of the applicant through
applicant's employment in optometry or in a related field.
(9) if the applicant holds a valid federal
Drug Enforcement Administration registration number, verification that the
applicant has compiled with the requirement for education in pain management
and opioid use and addiction under
AS
08.72.181(d)
(b) The board will not review an
application until the fees required by
12 AAC 02.300(1) and
(2) and documents required in (a)(1) - (4),
(7), and (8) of this section have been received by the department.
(c) The board may request additional
information from a licensing jurisdiction and other applicable sources if an
applicant's license history received under (a)(4) of this section shows
disciplinary action that the board determines needs further review.
(d) The board will issue a license by
examination to practice optometry, with prescriptive authority described in
AS
08.72.272, to an applicant who meets the
requirements of AS 08.72 and this chapter.
Information regarding examinations by the National Board
of Examiners in Optometry described in 12 AAC 48.011 may be obtained from the
National Board of Examiners in Optometry, 200 South College, Ste. 1920,
Charlotte, N.C. 28202, phone (704)
332-9565.
