Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 2, February 2024
Section 1 - Any
person from another state desiring to engage in the practice of optometry in
this state may be issued licensure by endorsement at the sole discretion of the
State Board of Optometry upon satisfactory proof that he or she:
A. is qualified under this Chapter.
B. has been issued a certificate or license
to practice optometry by a state, territory, the District of Columbia, or
Canada having standards of proficiency at least equal to the standards of
Arkansas and
C. has engaged in the
lawful practice of optometry for a period of three (3) of the past four years
in the other state, territory, the District of Columbia or Canada and has
complied with all the requirement of the Arkansas licensure law at the time of
application.
D. has passed an
Arkansas Jurisprudence examination as approved by the Arkansas State Board of
Optometry.
Section 2 -
The applicant shall pay a fee to the State Board of Optometry of $400.00 to
cover the administrative costs of the application process.
Section 3. - An application for licensure by
endorsement shall be accompanied by:
A. The
fee described in Section
2.
B. Certification from all states or
territories in which the applicant has practiced.
C. A certificate of good standing from each
authority which issued the license, setting forth the applicant's moral
reputation and character, history with the authority, professional ability,
continuing education compliance, and other information or data as the State
Board of Optometry may deem necessary or expedient.
D. A copy of the therapeutic license held by
the applicant.
E. A copy of the
cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification held by the applicant.
F. Transcripts from all colleges or
universities attended by the applicant; and an accredited school of college of
optometry.
G. Proof of completion
of all parts of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry examination
required at the time of graduation for initial licensure sent directly to the
State Board of Optometry.
H.
Information on past medical malpractice claims and any disciplinary
actions.
I. Application to the
Identification Bureau of the Department of Arkansas State Police for a state
and national criminal background check, to be conducted by the Federal Bureau
of Investigation; and.
J. Appear in
person before the State Board of Optometry for an interview.
K. Take 3 hours of prescribing as required
under Article V, Section
2 F.
Section 4 - Upon furnishing satisfactory
proof of fitness, the State Board of Optometry in its discretion may issue a
license to practice optometry to the applicant without further cost except as
otherwise provided in the Rules and Regulations for the renewal of
licenses.
