(A) Each
person who wishes to be considered for a certificate of licensure to practice
must complete a formal application for such consideration by the
board.
(B) Each completed
optometrist application must be accompanied by a credit card
payment, in the amount of the current licensure fee.
(C) Each optometrist applicant must cause the
official final transcript and any partial credits from any accredited optometry
school(s) to be forwarded directly to the board from the school(s)
attended.
(D) The licensing
examination for optometrists shall contain these required parts:
(1) Part I of the licensing examination shall
consist of basic science, human biology, ocular and visual biology, theoretical
ophthalmic, and physiological optics and psychology.
(2) Part II of the licensing examination
shall consist of clinical science, systemic conditions, the treatment and
management of ocular disease, refractive, oculomotor, sensory integrative
conditions, perceptual conditions, public health, and the legal issues
regarding the clinical practice of optometry.
(3) Part III of the licensing examination
shall consist of tests in patient care and management, clinical skills, and the
visual recognition and interpretation of clinical signs.
(4) All optometry candidates for licensure by
examination must provide verification of passing all parts of the examinations
with passing scores as determined by the national board of examiners in
optometry and the state vision professionals board. The board may accept the
examinations given by the national board of examiners in optometry or any
equivalent examinations as determined by the board.
(5)
In addition to
the requirements of this rule, all applicants for licensure as an optometrist
shall submit to a criminal records check completed by the bureau of criminal
identification and investigation in accordance with section
4725.121 of the Revised Code.
The results of the criminal records check shall be received by the board prior
to the issuance of a license to practice as an optometrist. The board will only
accept the results of a criminal records check that is submitted to the board
directly by the bureau of criminal identification and investigation in
accordance with this rule, the applicant requesting the criminal records check
shall:
(a)
Provide the bureau of criminal identification and
investigation with the applicant's name and address and with the name address
for the state vision professionals board.
(b)
Request that the
bureau of criminal identification and investigation obtain from the federal
bureau of investigation any information it has pertaining to the
applicant.
(c)
If an applicant for licensure submitted to the board
remains incomplete for one year, the application shall be considered
void.
(d)
The board will only accept the results of a criminal
records check that is submitted to the board directly by the bureau of criminal
identification and investigation.
(e)
The appropriate
certificate of licensure shall be issued electronically by the board after
approval.
(E) Any person seeking licensure as an
optician from the state vision professionals board after having successfully
passed the required examinations, shall make application in a manner prescribed
by the board for such licensure within three years of the date of the exam that
was taken and passed.
(1) Optician
applications shall be:
(a) Accompanied by the
non-refundable fee in a form established by the board and as prescribed in
division (B) of section
4725.48 of the Revised Code;
and,
(b) Accompanied by such
evidence, statements, or documents as specified on the application
form.
(2) An applicant
for initial licensure as a dispensing optician shall:
(a) Be at least eighteen years of
age;
(b) Be honest and
trustworthy;
(c) Be a graduate of a
secondary school recognized by the state department of education in this state,
or similar educational agency in another state or has attained an educational
equivalent such as proof of having successfully passed the general educational
development (GED) examination or a GED certificate of high school equivalency
diploma.
(3) Has
successfully completed either of the following:
(a) A two-year college level program in
optical dispensing accredited by a regional accreditation organization that is
recognized or approved by the United States department of education, but is not
limited to, courses of study in:
(i)
Mathematics;
(ii)
Science;
(iii) English;
(iv) Anatomy and physiology of the
eye;
(v) Applied optics;
(vi) Ophthalmic optics;
(vii) Measurement and inspection of lenses,
lens grinding and edging;
(viii)
Ophthalmic lens design;
(ix)
Keratometry; and
(x) Fitting and
adjusting of spectacle lenses, frames and contact lenses, including methods of
fitting contact lenses and post-fitting care.
(b) For a spectacle dispensing optician
license, one thousand hours of supervised experience under a licensed
dispensing optician, optometrist, or physician engaged in the practice of
ophthalmology.
(c)
For a spectacle-contact lens dispensing optician license,
one thousand five hundred hours of supervised experience under a licensed
dispensing optician, optometrist, or physician engaged in the practice of
ophthalmology.
(d) The board may
grant a spectacle dispensing or spectacle-contact lens
dispensing license with consideration of years of experience from an
unlicensed state, employer recommendation letter(s) and other relevant
documentation based on the successful completion of either the national
qualifying exam or completion of the american board of opticianry practical or
the national contact lens examiners practical exam.
(e) Under section
4725.48 of the Revised Code, the
board may grant an individual a conditional license that lasts for one year.
After the one-year period has expired, the license is no longer considered
conditional, and the individual shall be considered fully licensed.
(F) The applicant has
successfully completed the state board national qualifying examination for
either the spectacle dispensing license or a spectacle-contact lens dispensing
license.
(G) In addition to the
requirements of this rule, all applicants for licensure as a dispensing
optician shall submit to a criminal records check completed by the bureau of
criminal identification and investigation in accordance with section
4725.501 of the Revised Code.
The results of the criminal records check shall be received by the board prior
to the issuance of a license to practice as a dispensing optician. The board
will only accept the results of a criminal records check that is submitted to
the board directly by the bureau of criminal identification and
investigation. In accordance with this rule, the
applicant requesting the criminal records check shall:
(1) Provide the bureau of criminal
identification and investigation with the applicant's name and address and with
the name and address for the state vision professionals board; and,
(2) Request that the bureau of criminal
identification and investigation obtain from the federal bureau of
investigation any information it has pertaining to the applicant.
(3) If an application for licensure submitted
to the board remains incomplete for one year, the application shall be
considered void.
(4) The board will
only accept the results of a criminal records check that is submitted to the
board directly by the bureau of criminal identification and
investigation.
(5) The appropriate
license and wall certificate shall be issued electronically by the board after
approval.
(H) If an application
for licensure submitted to the board remains incomplete for one year, the
application shall be considered void.
(I) The appropriate
license and wall certificate shall be issued upon
approval by the board no later than sixty days after approval by the
board.
(J) For purposes of
Chapters 4725-1 to 4725-20 of the Administrative Code, and except as otherwise
provided, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) "Active license" means the license held
by a dispensing optician who
has fulfilled all requirements of the board for initial licensure or for
licensure renewal.
(2) "Active
registration" means the registration held by an apprentice who has fulfilled
all requirements of the board for initial registration or for registration
renewal.
(3) "Board" means the
state vision professionals board.
(4) "Spectacle apprenticeship" means one
thousand hours of supervised experience under a licensed optician, optometrist,
or physician engaged in the practice of ophthalmology. Registration with the
board is not required when the learning experience is gained under the direct
supervision of a licensed
optometrist or physician engaged in the practice of ophthalmology. All learning
experiences shall include, but is not limited to:
(a) One thousand hours of supervised
experience under a licensed optician, optometrist, or physician engaged in the
practice of ophthalmology, but not limited to:
(i) Use and function of lensometer;
(ii) Use and function of
pupilometer;
(iii) Use and function
of lens clock, determination of curve and warpage;
(iv) Determination and purpose of pupillary
distance;
(v) Determination and
purpose of lens decentration;
(vi)
Determination and purpose of vertex distance;
(vii) Determination of prism;
(viii) Determination of frame size to
patient;
(ix) Determination of
frame measurements;
(x)
Determination of lens measurements;
(xi) Adjusting frames;
(xii) Anatomy and physiology of the
eye;
(xiii) Interpretation, without
altering, of a spectacle prescription;
(xiv) Ethical and professional conduct
including confidentiality of patient information;
(xv) Appropriate documentation of the care
provided to the patient;
(xvi)
Optical terminology;
(xvii)
Principles of patient education; and,
(xviii) Verification of finished product to
the current prescription.
(b) [Reserved]
(5) "Spectacle- contact lens apprenticeship"
means either:
(a) One thousand five hundred
hours of supervised experience under a licensed dispensing optician,
optometrist, or physician engaged in the practice of ophthalmology.
Registration with the board is not required when the individual is engaged in
the learning experience under the direct supervision of a licensed optometrist
or physician engaged in the practice of ophthalmology. All learning experiences
shall include, but are not limited to:
(i)
Anatomy and physiology of the eye;
(ii) Interpretation, without altering, of a
contact lens prescription;
(iii)
Ethical and professional conduct including confidentiality of patient
information;
(iv) Appropriate
documentation of the care provided;
(v) Use and function of the
keratometer;
(vi) Use and function
of the slit lamp;
(vii) Principles
of proper lens selection;
(viii)
Optical terminology
(ix) Use and
function of the radiuscope;
(x) Use
and function of the lensometer;
(xi) Selection of lens material and design
based on patient assessment;
(xii)
Diagnostic fit and evaluation;
(xiii) Principles of patient
education;
(xiv) Verification of
finished product to the current prescription; or,
(b) Five hundred hours of supervised
experience under a licensed dispensing optician, optometrist, or physician
engaged in the practice of ophthalmology of a registered apprentice who is also
currently licensed as a spectacle dispensing optician. Registration with the
board is not required when the individual is engaged in the learning experience
under the direct supervision
of a licensed optometrist or physician engaged in the practice of
ophthalmology. All learning experiences shall include, but not limited to:
(i) Anatomy and physiology of the
eye;
(ii) Interpretation, but not
altering, of a contact lens prescription;
(iii) Ethical and professional conduct
including confidentiality of patient information
(iv) Use and function of the
keratometer;
(v) Use and function
of the slit lamp;
(vi) Optical
terminology;
(vii) Principles of
proper lens selection;
(viii) Use
and function of the radiuscope;
(ix) Use and function of the
lensometer;
(x) Selection of lens
material and design based on patient assessment;
(xi) Diagnostic fit and evaluation;
(xii) Principles of patient
education;
(xiii) Verification of
finished product to current prescription.
(6) "Apprentice
optician" means any person registered with the board for the purpose of
engaging in the training and education in the practice of dispensing optical
aids while under the direct supervision of the licensed dispensing opticians
specified on the apprentice registration forms and as indicated on the current,
valid registration cards issued by the board to the registered apprentice.
(7) "Direct
supervision" means initial and ongoing direction, procedural guidance,
observation and evaluation, as appropriate, by a licensed optician
who is registered
with the board as the supervisor of the apprentice; and, who is always
continually available in person within the optical area when the apprentice is engaged
in optical dispensing . The registered licensed dispensing optician
shall supervise a maximum of
three apprentices.
(8) "Educational
equivalent" means the proof of having successfully passed the general education
development (GED) examinations or a GED certificate of high school equivalency
diploma.
(9) "Free of
contagious or infectious disease" means demonstrating no clinically evident
illness that would impair the ability to provide safe opticianry care
.
(10)
"Expired license" means the status of the license of a
dispensing optician who has
failed to fulfill all requirements of licensure renewal.
(11)
"Expired registration" means the status of the
registration of an apprentice who has failed to fulfill all requirements of
apprentice registration renewal or upon removal from supervision by the
registered supervisor.
(12) "Licensed
dispensing optician" means a person holding a current, valid license issued by
the board that authorizes the person to engage in optical dispensing.
(13)
"Licensed spectacle dispensing optician" means a licensed dispensing optician
authorized to engage in the dispensing of optical aids other than contact
lenses.
(14)
"Licensed spectacle-contact lens dispensing optician" means a licensed
dispensing optician authorized to engage in the dispensing of any optical
aid.
(15)
(16) "Optical aid" has
the same meaning as division (A) of section
4725.40 of the Revised
Code.
(17) "Optical
dispensing" has the same meaning as division (B) of section
4725.40 of the Revised
Code.
(18) "Optical" means
the space reserved for the optical department or the location where care is
provided. This includes the lab area, fitting area, dispensing area, reception
area and waiting area. This does not include areas of a larger company or
building where the optical department or shop is leased or confined to its own
space.
(19) "Prescription"
means the written or verbal directions or instructions as specified by a
physician or licensed optometrist licensed by any state for preparing an
optical aid for a patient.
(20) "Endorsement" has
the same meaning as "reciprocity" and means the process by which a license to
practice as a dispensing optician is issued to an individual who is licensed in
another state in accordance with rules of the board and after the following has
occurred:
(a) Verification of licensure in
good standing received directly from the state of the current licensure at the
time of application; and,
(b)
Receipt of completed application and fee in the form required by the board, and
the criminal records check by the bureau of criminal identification and
investigation in accordance with section
4725.501 of the Revised
Code.
(c) "Registration" means
meeting all requirements of the board for the authority to practice as an
apprentice optician
under the direct supervision of a designated, licensed dispensing optician
.