SUBCHAPTER 42D ‑ OPTOMETRIC ASSISTANT AND TECHNICIAN
21 NCAC 42D .0101 DEFINITIONS
(a) Optometric assistants are those paraoptometric personnel who qualify by training and experience to perform duties of a technical nature relating to the assisting of a licensed practitioner in a dependent relationship.
(b) The optometric laboratory assistant is an individual with control of ophthalmic materials used in the optometric practice for lens and frame fabrication, selection and dispensing.
(c) Optometric technicians are those paraoptometric personnel who have satisfactorily completed programs in optometric technicianry approved by the Board. Technicians are trained in patient handling, ophthalmic laboratory preparation, administration of visual training, contact lens procedures and ophthalmic frame styling.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑115.1(6); 90‑117.5;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. June 1, 1989; September 30, 1981.
(a) The optometric technician performs those functions within the scope of his training, as directed by and assigned to him by an optometrist, so long as those functions are at the specific direction and under the personal supervision of the licensee.
(b) The optometric assistant performs as an assistant to an optometrist and carries out verbal or written instructions in assisting in patient care.
(c) The optometric laboratory assistant performs at the direction of an optometrist those functions directly related to the fabrication of lenses and frames, frame selection, and the dispensing thereof.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑115.1(6); 90‑117.5;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. June 1, 1989; September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42D .0103 APPLICATION
Application for registration of an optometric assistant or an optometric technician shall be made upon Form BEO‑6 supplied by the Secretary and shall be submitted by the prospective registrant or the optometrist for whom the optometric assistant or optometric technician will work.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑115.1(6); 90‑117.5;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. June 1, 1989; September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42D .0104 REGISTRATION
Before being approved for registration by the Board to perform as an optometric assistant or as an optometric technician an applicant must submit an application, the registration fee, and give evidence of qualification of training as recognized by the Board under Rule .0006 of this Subchapter. Registration will be effective until January 31 of the year following approval and thereafter be annually renewed.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑115.1(6); 90‑117.5;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. June 1, 1989; September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42D .0105 ANNUAL RENEWAL
Registered optometric assistants and optometric technicians will be required to apply for annual renewal of registration not later than January 31 of each year. Renewal will be made by application on Form BEO‑10 supplied by the Secretary and accompanied with the annual renewal fee.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑115.1(6); 90‑117.5;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. June 1, 1989; September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42D .0106 ACCREDITATION OF TRAINING PROGRAMS
Application for recognition of an optometric technician or optometric assistant training program by the Board shall be made by letter with supporting documents from the director of the program. The training program must be sponsored by an institute, college, university recognized by the American Optometric Association, the North Carolina Optometric Society, or by an entity affiliated with one of the foregoing. There must be evidence that the program has education as its primary orientation and objective. The program must be under the supervision of a qualified director, who has at his disposal the resources of competent personnel adequately trained in the optometric field. The prescribed program must provide adequate instruction in the field of optometry as related to an optometric assistant or a prescribed course in optometric technicianry. Recognition of a program may be withdrawn when, in the opinion of the Board, the program fails to maintain the educational standards recommended by the Council on Optometric Education.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑115.1(6); 90‑117.5;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. June 1, 1989; September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42D .0107 QUALIFICATION BY EXAMINATION
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑115.1(6); 90‑117.5;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Repealed Eff. September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42D .0108 TERMINATION OF REGISTRATION
The approval of an optometric assistant or an optometric technician shall be terminated by the Board when, after due notice and hearing, it shall find:
(1) that the assistant or technician has held himself out or permitted another to represent him to be an optometrist;
(2) that the assistant or technician in fact has performed otherwise than at the direction or under the supervision of an optometrist licensed by the Board or has been delegated and has performed a task or tasks beyond his competence;
(3) that the assistant or technician is a habitual user of intoxicants or drugs to such an extent that he is unable to perform as an assistant or technician to an optometrist;
(4) that the assistant or technician has been convicted in any court, state or federal, of any felony or other criminal offense involving moral turpitude;
(5) that the assistant or technician has been adjudicated as mentally incompetent, or suffers from a mental condition rendering him unable to safely perform as an assistant or technician to an optometrist;
(6) that the assistant or technician failed to pay the registration fee or renewal fee.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑115.1(6); 90‑117.5;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. June 1, 1989; September 30, 1981.
21 NCAC 42D .0109 FEES
History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑115.1(6); 90‑117.5;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. May 30, 1978;
Amended Eff. September 30, 1981;
Repealed Eff. June 1, 1989.