(A) A person is qualified to receive a certificate of licensure as an optician if the person has:

(1) graduated from an accredited public or private high school or secondary school of equal grade approved by the board or has completed an equivalent course of study approved by the board.

(2)(a) received a certificate from a two-year school of opticianry approved by the board;

(b) a currently valid optician's license in another state;

(c) been engaged in opticianry for not less than two years in a state that does not license opticians; or

(d) had two years' apprenticeship under a South Carolina licensed optician, optometrist, or ophthalmologist. The board must approve in writing an apprenticeship before the apprenticeship commences, and the regulations of the board apply to the apprentice.

(3) satisfactorily passed an examination conducted or recognized by the board and shows proficiency in processing a lens, frame, or any other optical device or appurtenance in accordance with an optometrist's or physician's prescription. Processing does not mean those tasks and functions in surface grinding performed by persons who work in a wholesale laboratory.

Having met the requirements of this subsection and upon payment of a licensure fee established by the board in regulation, the board shall issue a certificate of licensure and shall enter the person in the board register as licensed to work as an optician.

(B) A person is qualified to receive a certificate of licensure as a contact lens optician who has:

(1) met all the requirements of subsection (A); and

(2) satisfactorily passed a written qualifying contact lens examination conducted or recognized by the board.

Having met the requirement of this subsection and upon payment of a licensure fee established by the board in regulation, the board shall issue a certificate of licensure and shall enter the person in the board register as licensed to work as a contact lens dispensing optician.

HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 426, Section 1.

Editor's Note

Prior Laws:1982 Act No. 396, Section 1; 1988 Act No. 528, Sections 2, 3; 1976 Code Section 40-38-120.