SUBCHAPTER 42B ‑ LICENSE TO PRACTICE OPTOMETRY
SECTION .0100 ‑ LICENSE BY EXAMINATION
21 NCAC 42B .0101 GRADUATE OF APPROVED SCHOOL
(a) The Board may grant recognition and approval to a school or college of optometry, deny or rescind recognition and approval, or make any recognition and approval granted by the Board conditional or probational, based on the Board's determination of the quality of the educational programs and offerings of the school or college of optometry. Their optometric educational programs having been accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education and recommended to the Board by the Association of Regulatory Boards in Optometry as worthy of approval, the following accredited schools and colleges of optometry are recognized and approved in accordance with the provisions of this Rule:
(1) University of Alabama at Birmingham
School of Optometry
1716 University Boulevard
Birmingham, AL 35294-0010
(2) University of California, Berkeley
School of Optometry
350 Minor Hall MC 2020
Berkeley, CA 94720-2020
(3) Southern California College of Optometry
2575 Yorba Linda Blvd.
Fullerton, CA 92631
(4) Ferris State University
Michigan College of Optometry
1310 Cramer Circle
Big Rapids, MI 49307-2738
(5) University of Houston
College of Optometry
505 J. Davis Armistead Bldg.
Houston, TX 77004-2020
(6) Illinois College of Optometry
3241 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60616
(7) Indiana University
School of Optometry
800 East Atwater
Bloomington, IN 47405-3680
(8) New England College of Optometry
424 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02115
(9) State University of New York
State College of Optometry
33 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036-8003
(10) The Ohio State University
College of Optometry
338 West Tenth Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210-1280
(11) Pacific University
College of Optometry
2043 College Way
Forest Grove, OR 97116
(12) Pennsylvania College of Optometry
at Salus University
Elkins Park Campus
8360 Old York Road
Elkins Park, PA 19027
(13) Southern College of Optometry
1245 Madison Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
(14) University of Waterloo
School of Optometry
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1 CANADA
(15) Inter American University of Puerto Rico
School of Optometry
500 Carretera Dr John Will Harris
Bayamon, PR 00957
(16) University of Missouri, St. Louis
College of Optometry
One University Blvd.
331 Marillac Hall
St. Louis, MO 63121-4400
(17) University of Montreal
Ecolo d'Optometrie
3744 Jean-Brillant, Suite 260-7
Montreal, QC H3T 1P1 CANADA
(18) Northeastern State University
Oklahoma College of Optometry
1001 N. Grand Avenue
Tahlequah, OK 74464
(19) Nova Southeastern University
College of Optometry
3200 S. University Drive
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328
(20) Midwestern University
Arizona College of Optometry
19555 N 59th Ave
Glendale, AZ 85308
(21) University of the Incarnate Word
School of Optometry
4301 Broadway, Box 373
San Antonio, TX 78209-6397
(22) Western University of Health Sciences
College of Optometry
309 E Second St.
Pomona, CA 91766-1854
(b) The Board may request a copy of the Council of Optometric Education's accreditation report on each school or college recognized and approved by the Board and for each school or college which has requested recognition and approval or for which the Board is considering recognition and approval.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90-117.5; 90-118(a),(b);
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. April 1, 2011; April 1, 1993; June 1, 1989; September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42B .0102 REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑118;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Repealed Eff. September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42B .0103 APPLICATION FOR LICENSURE BY EXAMINATION
One desiring to obtain the application form for licensure by examination shall specify the date of the examination when requesting the application form. The application shall be made on Form BEO‑1 supplied by the Board. The completed application form and the proper fee must be received in the Board office 60 days prior to the examination date.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑118; 90‑117.5;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. April 1, 1993; June 1, 1989; September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42B .0104 APPLICATION FOR LICENSURE BY RECIPROCITY
Requests for application for licensure under the provisions of G.S. 90‑118.5 shall be accompanied by the appropriate fee and shall be made on Form BEO‑1 supplied by the Board. The application and supporting documents required by G.S. 90‑118.5 must be received in the Board office 60 days prior to the date of the clinical practicum examination for which the application is being made.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑117.5; 90‑118.5;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. April 1, 1993; June 1, 1989; September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42B .0105 APPLICATION FOR INTERN PERMIT
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑118.8; 90‑117.5;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Repealed Eff. September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42B .0106 FEES
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑117.5; 90‑123;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. September 30, 1981;
Repealed Eff. June 1, 1989.
21 NCAC 42B .0107 WRITTEN EXAMINATION
(a) Each applicant for examination must submit evidence of having reached the recommended levels of acceptable performance on the National Board examinations given by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry on or after the April, 1978 administration in one of the following formats and under the following conditions prior to Board approval of his application to take the clinical practicum examination administered by the Board and shall authorize the release of his official score report by the National Board to the Board prior to the approval by the Board of his application to take the clinical practicum examination:
(1) April, 1978 through August, 1986 administrations: passing scores on Parts I, IIA, and IIB, with scores of not less than 75 in Section 7 (Pathology) and Section 9 (Pharmacology) on the Part IIB examination, and a score of not less than 75 on the National Board's Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease ("TMOD") examination.
(2) April, 1987 through August, 1992 administrations: passing scores on the Part I Basic Science (BS) examination and Part II Clinical Science (CS) examination of the National Board, with scores of not less than 75 on the Ocular Disease/Trauma and Clinical Pharmacology sections of the Part II Clinical Science (CS) examination, and a score of not less than 75 on the National Board's Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease (TMOD) examination.
(3) April, 1993 through December, 2008: passing score on the Part I Basic Science Examination of the National Board.
(4) April, 1993 through April, 2009: passing score on the Part II Clinical Science Examination of the National Board, with a score of not less than 75 on the Ocular Disease/Trauma component within the Clinical Science examination, or on the equivalent stand-alone TMOD examination.
(5) March, 2009 and thereafter: passing score on Part I Applied Basic Science (ABS) examination of the National Board.
(6) December, 2009 and thereafter: passing score on Part II Patient Assessment and Management (PAM) examination of the National Board, with a score of not less than 75 on the Disease/Trauma component within the Patient Assessment and Management (PAM) examination, and a score of not less than 75 on the TMOD component within the Patient Assessment and Management (PAM).
(7) March, 2010 and thereafter: passing score on the Part III Clinical Skills Examination (CSE) of the National Board.
(b) For applicants with passing scores on at least one National Board examination part under different formats and time periods described in (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4), and (a)(5)of this Rule, the following equivalences shall apply:
(1) Parts I and IIA are the equivalent of Basic Science;
(2) Part IIB is the equivalent of Clinical Science without the inclusion of TMOD;
(3) Part I Applied Basic Science (ABS) is the equivalent of Part I Basic Science; and
(4) Part II Patient Assessment and Management (PAM) is the equivalent of Part II Clinical Science.
(c) For those candidates taking the National Board examination under any of the examination formats dating back to April 1978 and prior to March 2009, old Part III (Patient Care) is not required.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90-117.5; 90-118;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. April 1, 2011; July 1, 1998; May 1, 1995; April 1, 1993; June 1, 1989; September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42B .0108 CLINICAL PRACTICUM EXAMINATIONS
(a) Each applicant, after paying the fee set in Subchapter 42J and having met the requirements of Rule .0107 of this Subchapter, will be given clinical practicum examinations which may be in oral, written, clinical and practical form, said examinations to cover those subjects essential to the practice of optometry as defined in G.S. 90‑114.
(b) To ensure proper examination of all applicants within a reasonable amount of time, the Board is authorized to employ clinical examiners, such clinical examiners to be licensed optometrists in the State of North Carolina who have been in practice no less than five years and who have demonstrated to their peers that they have superior clinical expertise.
(c) It shall be the duty of the optometrists who are members of the Board to prepare or oversee the preparation of the clinical practicum examinations. Psychometric consultants, subject matter experts and clinicians who have served as either members of the Board or as clinical examiners for the Board may be engaged by the Board in the design, implementation and grading of the examinations.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑114; 90‑117.5; 90‑118;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. June 1, 1989; September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42B .0109 CLINICAL EXAMINATION
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑118;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Repealed Eff. September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42B .0110 PASSING SCORE
An applicant must attain an average grade of 75 on the clinical practicum examinations to pass the examination and be issued a license. No applicant who has received a grade of less than 60 on any part of the clinical practicum examination shall be considered eligible for licensure even though his overall clinical practicum score may average 75. Each applicant will be notified by the Executive Director as to his success or failure after the results of the examination have been determined by the Board.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑117.5; 90‑118;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. May 1, 1995; April 1, 1993; June 1, 1989; September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42B .0111 RESIDENCY
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑117.5;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. September 30, 1981;
Repealed Eff. June 1, 1989.
21 NCAC 42B .0112 TIME AND LOCATION
There shall be at least one examination for the purpose of licensure held each year for those persons applying for a license to practice optometry in the State of North Carolina. Said examination shall be at such time and location as the Board may determine; provided, however, the date and place of examination shall be announced by the Board no less than six months prior to the examination.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑117.5; 90‑118;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. June 1, 1989; September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42B .0113 REEXAMINATION
(a) A completed application, except for school transcripts, birth certificate, and National Board scores, is required in case of reexamination. The completed application accompanied by the proper fee must be received in the Board office 60 days prior to the examination date.
(b) Any applicant who has failed the clinical practicum examination three times after the effective date of this Rule shall be deemed ineligible to apply for reexamination until he successfully completes an additional course of study in clinical optometry encompassing at least one academic year, such course to be approved by the Board. Such applicant shall submit evidence satisfactory to the Board of the additional study at the time he makes application for reexamination.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90-117.5; 90-118;
Eff. April 1, 1993.
SECTION .0200 ‑ RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPLY INFORMATION
21 NCAC 42B .0201 BEGINNING PRACTICE; RELOCATING PRACTICE
Within 10 days of beginning practice, a licensee shall notify the Board in writing as to the full and complete mailing address, including the street address, of his office and the telephone number of such office. If at any time any office is relocated, the licensee involved shall notify the Board of his new office address and telephone number. The address so identified shall constitute his primary practice address and the address to which all information pertaining to his licensure shall be addressed.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑117.5;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. April 1, 1993; June 1, 1989; September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42B .0202 BRANCH OFFICE
Before opening or beginning practice in a branch office, an optometrist must obtain a duplicate license to be displayed in the branch office. The application for a branch office license must be made on Form BEO-3, which can be acquired from the Board. If in the opinion of the Board Rules 42E .0102(2) and 42E .0102(5) of this Chapter are met, the Board shall notify the optometrist making application of the approval of the request and upon receipt of the required fee such duplicate license shall be issued by the Board for the purpose of display in the branch office for which it is issued in compliance with G.S. 90-118.2 and 90-118.4. A duplicate license is not transferable from one practice location to another, nor from one practitioner to another. Within the meaning of this Rule a nursing home is considered a branch office when there is an agreement between the optometrist or his representative that he will provide optometric services on a scheduled basis within the nursing home; provided however, any optometrist who accepts a request to make emergency calls to patients at a nursing home within 20 miles of his practice location(s) as reflected in the Board records is not required to obtain a duplicate license for that location.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑117.5; 90‑118.2; 90‑118.4;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. April 1, 1993; June 1, 1989; September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42B .0203 TEMPORARY OR RELIEF OPTOMETRIST
Before providing optometric services on a temporary or relief basis for which he will receive compensation, for any period of time, an optometrist must first obtain a duplicate license for each location at which he will provide such services. The identity of such temporary or relief optometrist shall clearly appear in the record of each patient to whom such optometrist renders optometric services.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90-117.5; 90-118.2; 90-118.4;
Eff. April 1, 1993.
21 NCAC 42B .0204 CEASING PRACTICE
(a) In the event an optometrist shall cease to practice at any practice location as defined in Rules .0201 and .0202 of this Section, the optometrist shall notify the Board in writing within ten days of ceasing practice, indicating the reason for discontinuing practice and the disposition of patient records.
(b) In the event that a licensee discontinues practice at a location for which a duplicate license has been issued, the licensee shall return the license to the Board for cancellation within 30 days.
(c) On ceasing practice at any location, the licensee shall notify those patients whose records he retains in accordance with 21 NCAC 42E .0102(5) and (6) of the disposition or availability of such records. Such notice shall be given by direct mail or through a public announcement in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties wherein the patients reside. If such notice is given by publication, such publication shall occur not less than weekly for a period of not less than ninety days.
(d) Any licensee ceasing practice shall maintain control and custody of the records located at that practice location until such time as such records are transferred to the patients or to the custody of another practitioner similarly licensed.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90-117.5; 90-118.2;
Eff. April 1, 1993.
SECTION .0300 ‑ ANNUAL LICENSE RENEWAL
21 NCAC 42B .0301 FEE
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑123;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. September 30, 1981;
Repealed Eff. June 1, 1989.
21 NCAC 42B .0302 CONTINUING EDUCATION
(a) Each optometrist holding a certificate of registration shall take annual courses of study approved by the Board as related to and essential to the practice of optometry as defined in G.S. 90-114. The Board shall approve courses whose content and quality of presentation are reasonably assured to the end that the licensee's abilities to meet the public demand of acceptable standards of care are enhanced and that currency of knowledge is insured.
(b) Each licensee shall determine if a course has been approved by the Board prior to the taking of the course and submitting it for credit.
(c) No course or course offering shall be considered for approval unless the vendor or sponsor has submitted to the Board no later than 30 days prior to the offering of the course information deemed sufficient by the Board as to the course title, course format, course content and learning purpose, lecturers including curriculum vitae, dates courses are offered, city and state where offered, and the name, address, and telephone number of the vendor or sponsor and the contact person(s) to whom inquiries can be made.
(d) Those courses that are approved, including the type and number of hours of credit, shall be entered by the Board's staff into the Board's central data base and the vendor or sponsor notified. Information concerning those courses that have been approved shall be made available to any licensee making inquiry concerning course approval.
(e) The Board shall maintain continuing education data on-line in its central data base for a minimum period of five years preceding the next annual license renewal date. A yearly listing of credits shall be furnished each licensee at the time of license renewal. Additional reports shall be available on request and with payment of a transcript fee of five dollars ($5.00). Telephone inquiries as to current status of continuing education hours may be made during normal business hours.
(f) Notification of the number of hours required by the Board for license renewal shall be given to each licensee at the time the licensee receives notice of annual license renewal. Such notice shall state the number of hours of approved continuing education required in the following year in order to renew a license for the second following year. The number of required continuing education hours is 25 hours.
(g) In any calendar year no less than 12 hours of the continuing education requirement must be in courses focused on current practices and advancements in the fields of ocular and general pharmacology, diagnosis and therapeutics, or advanced clinical procedures, said hours to be deemed "certified" credit hours by the Board. Courses certified to meet this special requirement shall be of sufficient length and depth to address the subject matter in the course description(s) and taught by individuals who have training and experience in the area taught.
(h) Courses of self-study by vendors meeting the standards and criteria set by the Council on Optometric Postgraduate Education (COPE) or the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), said course(s) meant to be taken by individuals through journal articles or over the internet where organized material is presented and written evaluations are made prior to or after completing the course(s) are eligible for approval provided the vendor or sponsor has submitted the course or courses for approval as described in this Rule prior to its being offered to the licensee. However, no licensee shall receive credit for more than six hours of educational credit by this means in any calendar year.
(i) Courses that are classified as practice administration shall be accepted by the Board for credit provided that no more than four hours of the total number of continuing education hours required shall be accepted within one calendar year for the purpose of credit for any licensee.
(j) All courses accepted for credit must be taken within the calendar year for which the credit is applied; provided, however, that any course dependent upon an examination for successful completion may be certified to the Board following examination even if the examination or the results thereof are not available until the next calendar year.
(k) Attendance at any course or courses approved by the Board shall be for the requisite period. The vendor or sponsor of the course shall assure compliance with this requirement and shall so certify to the Board no later than 30 days following the courses being offered. Documentation of attendance may be transmitted:
(1) By the vendor or sponsor of the education provided the documentation contains the following information:
(A) Course title and classification verification;
(B) Vendor or sponsor identification;
(C) Name of and license number of North Carolina licensee; and
(D) Vendor or sponsor's attestation or verification of attendance.
(2) By any licensee directly to the Board provided that the attendance is documented by the vendor or sponsor of the education, on a form given the licensee attending the course(s) attesting to their attendance, and the original form, not a photocopy or facsimile, is submitted.
(l) Electronic transfer of attendance records in a data base format compatible to the Board's data management system is acceptable; provided, however, the Board may at any time within three years of the date of transfer call for a hard copy verification if in its opinion such verification is necessary.
History Note: Authority G.S. 12-3.1; 90-117.5; 90-123.1;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. April 1, 2011; April 1, 1993; June 1, 1989; September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42B .0303 FAILURE TO CONTINUE EDUCATION
For failure to comply with 21 NCAC 42B .0302 the optometrist is subject to disciplinary action by the Board pursuant to G.S. 90‑121.2; provided, however, for a first offense the Board may require an additional three hours and for the second offense six additional hours of attendance at approved continuing education programs. Any penalty imposed will require that the additional hours be fulfilled in addition to the required hours for the ensuing year.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑117.5; 90‑123.1;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. June 1, 1989; September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42B .0304 APPLICATION
The application for license renewal shall show the licensee's full name, the serial number of his license, the address of each location in which he practices, the county in which each such practice is located, and whether the licensee has been certified to prescribe and use pharmaceutical agents. The application shall be mailed to each licensed optometrist at his address of record on or before November 15 of each year preceding the date on which the application and the fees are due.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑117.5; 90‑118.10;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. June 1, 1989; September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42B .0305 SUSPENSION OF AUTHORITY TO EXPEND FUNDS
In the event the Board's authority to expend funds is suspended pursuant to Session Law 2009-125, the Board shall continue to issue and renew licenses and all fees tendered shall be placed in an escrow account maintained by the Board for this purpose. Once the Board's authority is restored, the funds shall be moved from the escrow account into the general operating account.
History Note: Authority G.S. 93B-2(b);
Eff. April 1, 2011.