Section 10. Licensure by examination

A. The applicant, in order to be eligible for licensure by examination to practice optometry in the Commonwealth, shall meet the requirements for TPA certification in 18VAC105-20-16 and shall:

1. Be a graduate of a school of optometry accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education; have an official transcript verifying graduation sent to the board;

2. Request submission of an official report from the NBEO of a score received on each required part of the NBEO examination or other board-approved examination; and

3. Submit a completed application and the prescribed fee.

B. Applicants who passed the National Board Examination prior to May 1985 shall apply for licensure by endorsement as provided for in 18VAC105-20-15.

C. Required examinations.

1. For the purpose of § 54.1-3211 of the Code of Virginia, the board adopts all parts of the NBEO examination as its written examination for licensure. After July 1, 1997, the board shall require passage as determined by the board of Parts I, II, and III of the NBEO examination.

2. As part of the application for licensure, an applicant must sign a statement attesting that he has read, understands, and will comply with the statutes and regulations governing the practice of optometry in Virginia.

D. If an applicant has been licensed in another jurisdiction and has not been engaged in active clinical practice for at least 36 out of the last 60 months preceding application, as required for licensure by endorsement, he may apply for licensure by examination, and the following requirements shall also apply:

1. The applicant shall attest that he is not a respondent in a pending or unresolved malpractice claim; and

2. Each jurisdiction in which the applicant is or has been licensed shall verify that:

a. The license is current and unrestricted, or if the license has lapsed, it is eligible for reinstatement;

b. All continuing education requirements have been completed, if applicable;

c. The applicant is not a respondent in any pending or unresolved board action; and

d. The applicant has not committed any act that would constitute a violation of § 54.1-3204 or 54.1-3215 of the Code of Virginia.

E. An applicant who completed all parts of the board-approved examination more than five years prior to the date of the board's receipt of his application for licensure may be required to take up to 32 hours of board-approved continuing education.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR510-01-1 § 1, eff. October 30, 1985; amended, Volume 04, Issue 03, eff. December 9, 1987; Volume 04, Issue 19, eff. July 20, 1988; Volume 05, Issue 10, eff. March 13, 1989; Volume 08, Issue 04, eff. January 1, 1992; Volume 11, Issue 20, eff. July 26, 1995; Volume 15, Issue 06, eff. January 6, 1999; Volume 19, Issue 07, eff. January 15, 2003; Volume 22, Issue 04, eff. November 30, 2005; Volume 22, Issue 20, eff. July 12, 2006; Volume 23, Issue 22, eff. September 24, 2007; Volume 31, Issue 07, eff. January 15, 2015.

Statutory Authority

§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3223 of the Code of Virginia.