Section 50. Professional designations

A. In addition to the name of the optometrist as it appears on the license, an optometrist may practice in an office that uses only one of the following:

1. The name of an optometrist who employs him and practices in the same office;

2. A partnership name composed of some or all names of optometrists practicing in the same office; or

3. A professional designation, if the conditions set forth in subsection B of this section are fulfilled.

B. Optometrists licensed in this Commonwealth who practice as individuals, partnerships, associations, or other group practices may use a professional designation for the optometric office in which they conduct their practices provided the following conditions are met:

1. A professional designation shall be registered with the board by a licensed optometrist who has an ownership or equity interest in the optometric practice and who must practice in any location with that registered designation and who shall assume responsibility for compliance with this section and with the statutes and regulations governing the practice of optometry.

2. A professional designation shall be approved by the board and a fee shall be paid as prescribed by board regulations prior to use of the name. Names which, in the judgment of the board, are false, misleading, or deceptive will be prohibited.

3. No licensed optometrist may, at any time, register to practice optometry under more than one professional designation.

4. All advertisements, including but not limited to signs, printed advertisements, and letterheads, shall contain the word "optometry" or reasonably recognizable derivatives thereof unless the name of the optometrist is used with the professional designation with the O.D. designation, Doctor of Optometry or optometrist.

5. In the entrance or reception area of the optometric office, a chart or directory listing the names of all optometrists practicing at that particular location shall be kept at all times prominently and conspicuously displayed.

6. The names of all optometrists who practice under the professional designation shall be maintained in the records of the optometric office for five years following their departure from the practice.

7. The name of the licensed optometrist providing care shall appear on all statements of charges and receipts given to patients.

8. An optometrist may use a professional designation which contains the name of an inactive, retired, removed, or deceased optometrist for a period of no more than one year from the date of succession to a practice and so long as he does so in conjunction with his own name, together with the words, "succeeded by," "succeeding," or "successor to."

Historical Notes

Derived from VR510-01-1 § 5, 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.

Statutory Authority

§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.