(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.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 40 - Professions and Occupations
Section 40-38-5. Application of chapter; conflict of laws.
Section 40-38-10. Board of Examiners in Opticianry; membership; nominations; terms; removal.
Section 40-38-20. Definitions.
Section 40-38-30. Unlawful to practice opticianry without license.
Section 40-38-50. Administration of Board by Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
Section 40-38-60. Adoption of bylaws to govern board proceedings.
Section 40-38-70. Board responsibilities regarding examinations, investigations, and prosecutions.
Section 40-38-80. Collection of evidence for investigations and other board proceedings.
Section 40-38-100. Injunctive actions allowed by board.
Section 40-38-115. Jurisdiction of board.
Section 40-38-120. Disciplinary actions permitted by board; procedures.
Section 40-38-130. Denial of license on same grounds as for disciplinary actions.
Section 40-38-140. Denial of license based on prior criminal record.
Section 40-38-150. Voluntary surrender of license by licensee under investigation.
Section 40-38-160. Right of aggrieved person to seek review of board decision.
Section 40-38-170. Payment of investigation and prosecution costs by violator.
Section 40-38-180. Collection of costs and fines.
Section 40-38-190. Confidentiality of proceedings under provisions of this chapter.
Section 40-38-200. Violations; penalty.
Section 40-38-210. Additional civil penalties and injunctive relief.
Section 40-38-240. Qualifications for licensure as optician or contact lens optician.
Section 40-38-250. Apprentices and apprenticeships; promulgation of regulations.
Section 40-38-320. Use of third-party solicitations; restrictions.
Section 40-38-350. Display of certificate of licensure; effect of failure to display certificate.
Section 40-38-360. Service of required notices; prima facie evidence.
Section 40-38-370. Persons excepted from application of chapter.