449.04 Examination and licensure.

(1) The examining board may grant a license to engage in the practice of optometry only to a person who satisfies all of the following conditions:

(a) The person presents proof satisfactory to the examining board that, subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, he or she does not have an arrest or conviction record.

(b) The person has graduated from an accredited college of optometry approved and recognized by the examining board.

(c) The person passes an examination approved or conducted by the examining board.

(d) The person pays the fee specified in s. 440.05 (1).

(2) The examination shall reasonably relate to the skills likely to be needed for an applicant to practice optometry in this state at the time of examination and shall seek to determine the applicant's preparedness to exercise such skills. The examination shall test knowledge regarding general and ocular pharmacology as it relates to optometry with particular emphasis on the use of topical ocular diagnostic pharmaceutical agents and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents, including the treatment of adverse reactions to such pharmaceutical agents, and knowledge regarding the removal of foreign bodies from an eye or from an appendage to the eye. The examination shall also test knowledge of state laws and administrative rules regarding the practice of optometry. The examining board may do any of the following:

(a) Prepare, administer, and grade the examination.

(b) Approve in whole or in part an examination prepared, administered, and graded by the national board of examiners in optometry or another examination provider approved by the examining board.

(c) Approve and administer an examination prepared and graded by or under the direction of the national board of examiners in optometry or another examination provider approved by the examining board.

History: 1977 c. 29, 418; 1991 a. 39; 2005 a. 297; 2013 a. 114 ss. 19, 20, 22, 23.