OAR 852-010-0023: Rules for Endorsement Examination and Licensure

Pursuant to ORS 683.220 the Board may grant to an applicant a license by endorsement for the practice of optometry if the applicant: (1) Holds a license for the practice of optometry obtained by examination in another state in the United States; (2) Has been continuously engaged in the practice of optometry for not less than two years immediately preceding the application to the Board; (3) Has educational qualifications the Board considers equivalent to the educational requirements necessary for licensing by the Board at the time the applicant commenced the practice of optometry. The educational requirements include a passing score on Parts I, II, III, (PAM and Clinical Skills) and TMOD (Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease) of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) examination or its equivalent, as determined by the Board. NBEO standards for passing the NBEO examination are acceptable to the Board; (4) Submits documentation satisfactory to the Board of continuing optometric education hours equivalent to the requirements established by OAR 852-070; (5) Provides written confirmation sent directly from the licensing entity of each other state in which the applicant has ever been licensed that the applicant for licensure has not been sanctioned for violating the laws, rules or standards of ethics of that jurisdiction. The Board will accept electronic license verifications if that is the only mechanism the verifying state uses for license verifications. In addition, the Board will query the National Practitioner Data Bank and the Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank for adverse actions on each person making an application for licensure by endorsement; (6) Pays the licensure by endorsement application fee as listed in OAR 852-010-0080; and (7) Passes, by a score of 80 or better, a Board-approved written examination relating to Oregon optometric law and administrative rules within the 12 months previous to date of Oregon licensure. Because the Administrative Rule and Law examination is not clinical in nature, there is no waiting period before an examination retake. If the examination is not available through the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, the Board will set location(s), date(s) time(s) and fees for administration of the examination; (8) Provides proof of meeting the requirements of OAR 852 division 80 — Pharmaceutical Agents, for licensure with the non-topical certification (AT) or non-topical certification with injections (ATI); (9) Receives satisfactory results of a criminal records background check as defined in OAR 852-050-0025; (10) Any applicant whose conduct constitutes cheating or subverting of the process of the evaluation of professional competency by the Board or by an examiner may be dismissed from the examination and denied licensure. (11) Designate if they are a telehealth only licensee.