California Code of Regulations
Title 16 - Professional and Vocational Regulations
Division 15 - State Board of Optometry
Article 8 - Topical Pharmaceutical Agents
Section 1561 - Topical Pharmaceutical Agents Usage-Purpose and Requirements

Universal Citation: 16 CA Code of Regs 1561

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 12, March 22, 2024

(a) The purpose of this article is to implement Business and Professions Code Section 3041.2, as added to said code by chapter 418 of the 1976 statutes. Only those optometrists meeting the requirements of this article may use topical pharmaceutical agents in the examination of human eyes.

(b) In order to use topical pharmaceutical agents in the examination of human eyes, an optometrist must:

(1) complete a course in pharmacology approved by the Board or have equivalent experience satisfactory to the Board; and

(2) provide evidence of taking and passing either:
(A) both the Applied Basic Science and Clinical Skills sections of the NBEO examination as it was constituted beginning in January 2010; or

(B) a pharmacology examination equivalent to subdivision (b)(1) above and administered by an accredited school or college of optometry.

(c) The Board will issue a Diagnostic Pharmaceutical Agents certification to optometrists fulfilling the requirements of subsection (b) authorizing them to use topical pharmaceutical agents.

1. Amendment filed 5-20-83; effective upon filing pursuant to Government Code Section 11346.2(d) (Register 83, No. 21).
2. Amendment of subsection (b) filed 5-8-89; operative 6-7-89 (Register 89, No. 27).
3. Amendment of section and NOTE filed 2-8-2011; operative 3-10-2011 (Register 2011, No. 6).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 3025, 3041.2 and 3053, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 3041 and 3041.2, Business and Professions Code.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. California may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.