(A) The state vision professionals board may provide for the examination of applicants by designing, preparing, and administering the qualifying examinations or by contracting with a testing service that is nationally recognized as being capable of determining competence to dispense optical aids as a licensed spectacle dispensing optician, a licensed contact lens dispensing optician, or a licensed spectacle-contact lens dispensing optician. Any examination used shall be designed to measure specific performance requirements, be professionally constructed and validated, and be independently and objectively administered and scored in order to determine the applicant's competence to dispense optical aids.

(B)

(1) The board shall ensure that it, or the testing service it contracts with, does all of the following:

(a) Provides public notice as to the date, time, and place for each examination at least ninety days prior to the examination;

(b) Offers each qualifying examination at least twice each year in Columbus, except as provided in division (C) of this section;

(c) Provides all materials and equipment necessary for the applicant to take the examination.

(2) The board shall provide to each applicant all forms necessary to apply for examination.

(C) If the number of applicants for any qualifying examination is less than ten, the examination may be postponed. The board or testing service shall provide the applicant with written notification of the postponement and of the next date the examination is scheduled to be administered.

(D) No limitation shall be placed upon the number of times that an applicant may repeat any qualifying examination, except that, if an applicant fails an examination for a third time, the board may require that the applicant, prior to retaking the examination, undergo additional study in the areas of the examination in which the applicant experienced difficulty.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 420, §1, eff. 4/5/2019.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 49, §130.11, eff. 1/21/2018.

Effective Date: 09-05-2001 .