License: Optician

Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation Board for Opticians
3600 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23230-4917
(804) 367-8505

Qualifications of applicant. An applicant for a license shall furnish satisfactory evidence on an application provided by the board establishing that: 1. The applicant is at least 18 years of age unless emancipated under the provisions of _x0015_16.1-333 of the Code of Virginia; 2. The applicant is a graduate of an accredited high school, or has completed the equivalent of grammar school and a four-year high school course, or is a holder of a certificate of general educational development; 3. The applicant is in good standing as a licensed optician in every jurisdiction where licensed; 4. The applicant has not been convicted in any jurisdiction of a misdemeanor or felony involving sexual offense, drug distribution or physical injury, or any felony that directly relates to the profession of opticianry. The board shall have the authority to determine, based upon all the information available, including the applicant's record of prior convictions, if the applicant is unfit or unsuited to engage in the profession of opticianry. Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for the purposes of this subdivision. The licensee shall provide a certified copy of a final order, decree or case decision by a court or regulatory agency with the lawful authority to issue such order, decree or case decision, and such copy shall be admissible as prima facie evidence of such conviction. This record shall be forwarded by the licensee to the board within 10 days after all appeal rights have expired; 5. The applicant has successfully completed one of the following education requirements: a. A board-approved two-year course in a school of opticianry, including the study of topics essential to qualify for practicing as an optician; or b. A three-year apprenticeship with a minimum of one school year of related instruction or home study while registered in the apprenticeship program in accordance with the standards established by the state Department of Labor and Industry, Division of Apprenticeship Training and approved by the Board for Opticians; 6. The applicant has disclosed his current mailing address; 7. The nonresident applicant for a license has filed and maintained with the department an irrevocable consent for the director of the department to serve as service agent for all actions filed in any court in the Commonwealth; and 8. The applicant shall certify, as part of the application, that the applicant has read and understands Chapter 15 (_x0015_ 54.1-1500 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia and the regulations of the board. Opticians licensed in another state. A. An optician licensed in another state seeking to be licensed as an optician in Virginia shall submit an application on a form provided by the board with the required fee. All fees are nonrefundable and shall not be prorated. B. The board, using the following standards, shall issue a license to any person licensed in another state who: 1. Has met requirements equivalent to those listed in 18 VAC 80-30-20; and 2. Has passed a substantially equivalent examination. Fees. A. The fee for examination or examinations shall consist of the combination of an administrative charge of $25 (spectacle), $25 (contact lens), and the appropriate contract charges. Examination service contracts shall be established in compliance with the Virginia Public Procurement Act (_x0015_ 11-35 et seq. of the Code of Virginia). The total examination fee shall not exceed a cost of $1000 to the applicant. B. All application fees for licenses are nonrefundable and the date of receipt by the board or its agent is the date which will be used to determine whether it is on time. C. Application and examination fees must be submitted with the application for licensure. Examinations. A. All examinations required for licensure shall be approved by the board and administered by the board, or its agents or employees acting on behalf of the board. B. The board shall schedule an examination to be held at least twice each calendar year at a time and place to be designated by the board. C. The applicant shall follow all rules established by the board with regard to conduct at an examination. Such rules shall include any written instructions communicated prior to the examination date and any instructions communicated at the site, either written or oral, on the date of the examination. Failure to comply with all rules established by the board with regard to conduct at an examination shall be grounds for denial of application.

  • Stand-alone license
  • State exam required
  • Degree required
  • Continuing education required
  • Experience required
  • Specific type of conviction prohibited
License information updated 05/29/2014