Rule 4725-3-01 | Application for licensure.
(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.
Last updated November 30, 2023 at 8:30 AM
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