Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 630-X-5 — Application and Examination for Licensing

630 Alabama Board of Optometry

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-5-.01 Application For Examination And Licensing

All applications for examinations and licensing shall be filed with the secretary-treasurer on forms provided by the Board. The application shall include all information required by statute and such other information as the Board may require by resolution, including, without limitation and in the Board’s discretion, a history of arrests and convictions, a background check report, information about civil judgments and other information.

History

• Author: Dr. Larry Carter
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-42.
• Filed July 9, 1990. Amended: Filed July 23, 2010; effective August 27, 2010.
• Editor's note: Previous rule (same title) filed September 13, 1982. Repealed: Filed July 9, 1990.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-5-.02 Examination Fee

At the time of filing, the applicant shall pay to the secretary-treasurer a fee equal to the maximum provided by law.

History

• Author: Dr. Larry Carter
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-20.
• Filed July 9, 1990.
• Editor's note: Previous rule (same title) filed September 13, 1982. Amended: Filed March 6, 1985. Repealed: Filed July 9, 1990.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-5-.03 Date, Time, And Place Of Examinations

During the month of July each year the Board shall give examinations at a place, date, and time specified by Board resolution. It shall be a prerequisite to the taking of the examination that an applicant make proof satisfactory to the Board prior to the examination the following:1) that the applicant completed a minimum of three years or the equivalent at an accredited college or university, 2) that the applicant has completed a course of study in an accredited school or college of optometry which is approved by the Board and that requires at least four years of professional study, and 3) applicant has passed Parts I and II of the examination administered by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry. Upon passing the standard examination prescribed by the Board, applicants shall submit to the Board proof that said applicant has passed Part III of the examination administered by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry and applicant shall also complete and submit to the Board for approval a protocol furnished by the Board for the use of pharmaceutical agents in the treatment of disease of the eye and its adjacent structures. The executive director shall give reasonable notice to each applicant, whose application meets those requirements specified to be met prior to the examination, of the place, date, and time of the examination. If there are no applications on file with the executive director as of June 1 of a given year, the annual examinations shall not be conducted in that year.

History

• Author: Wallace D. Mills
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-20.
• Filed July 9, 1990. Repealed and Replaced with New Rule: Filed August 28, 1995; effective October 2, 1995. Amended: Filed January 16, 2008; effective February 20, 2008. Amended: Published September 30, 2025; effective November 14, 2025.
• Editor's note: Previous rule (same title) filed September 13, 1982. Amended: Filed March 6, 1985; February 5, 1986. Repealed: Filed July 9, 1990.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-5-.04 Special Examination

At any time the Board deems it to be justified, it can conduct a special examination at a date, time, and place to be specified by Board resolution calling the examination. The executive director shall give reasonable notice of such date, time, and place to each applicant whose application is in order.

History

• Author: Wallace D. Mills
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-20.
• Filed July 9, 1990. Amended: Published September 30, 2025; effective November 14, 2025.
• Editor's note: Previous rule (same title) filed September 13, 1982. Repealed: Filed July 9, 1990.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-5-.05 Conducting And Grading Of Examinations

Prior to each examination meeting, the president will assign duties to the respective Board members in conducting and grading the examinations.

History

• Author: Dr. Larry Carter
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-20.
• Filed July 9, 1990.
• Editor's note: Previous rule (same title) filed September 13, 1982. Repealed: Filed July 9, 1990.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-5-.06 Content Of Examination

The examination may be divided into from one to seven sections, to be established by Board resolution. Content of each section shall be established by Board resolution and may cover the examination areas of practical optics, theoretical optics, physiological optics, theoretical optometry, practical optometry, orthoptics, ocular anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, diagnosis and treatment of disease of the human eye and its adjacent structures, general anatomy, hygiene, and such other knowledge as the Board deems essential to the practice of optometry, to include testing of knowledge of the laws governing the practice of optometry and of the regulations of the Board. Each applicant making an average score of 75 percent or higher shall be deemed to have passed the examination. The secretary-treasurer shall notify each applicant taking the examination of their final score not later than thirty days after the date of the examination.

History

• Author: Dr. Larry Carter
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-20.
• Filed July 9, 1990. Amended: Filed December 16, 1991. Repealed and Replaced with New Rule: Filed August 28, 1995; effective October 2, 1995. Amended: Filed November 3, 2009; effective December 8, 2009. Amended: Published September 30, 2025; effective November 14, 2025.
• Editor's note: Previous rule (same title) filed September 13, 1982. Amended: Filed March 6, 1985. Repealed: Filed July 9, 1990.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-5-.07 Applicants Earning A Passing Score

Each applicant who has earned a passing score on the examination, submitted proof of passing Part III of the examination administered by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, has completed and submitted the aforementioned protocol and has received approval thereof, and has met any further requirements established by the Board shall be registered as qualified to practice optometry in the state of Alabama and shall be issued a license, a license certificate, and approval by the Board for the use of pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of disease of the eye and its adjacent structures. All requirements for licensing must be completed by applicant no later than twelve months from the date said applicant took the standard examination given by the Board. Failure of an applicant to meet these requirements within said twelve months shall void the results of the standard examination and the applicant procedure and examination will have to be repeated.

History

• Author: Dr. Larry Carter
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-20.
• Filed July 9, 1990. Repealed and Replaced with New Rule: Filed August 28, 1995; effective October 2, 1995. Amended: Filed January 16, 2008; effective February 20, 2008.
• Editor's note: Previous rule (same title) filed September 13, 1982. Repealed: Filed July 9, 1990.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-5-.08 Application To The Board For Approval To Use Pharmaceutical Agents For Treatment Of Disease Of The Eye And Adjacent Structures

Optometrists licensed prior to October 1, 1994 may apply to the Board, on a form provided by the Board, for approval to use pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of disease of the eye and its adjacent structures. Prior to approval of such applications, applicant must furnish satisfactory proof to the Board that said applicant has completed at least 72 Board approved clock hours in the diagnosis and management of disease of the eye and its adjacent structures within a three year period preceding said application, must complete and submit for Board approval a protocol furnished by the Board, and meet any further requirements established by the Board. When all requirements have been met and approved by the Board, said applicant shall be granted the authority to use pharmaceutical agents for treatment of disease of the eye and adjacent structures. Each licensee so authorized must then fulfill all regulations established by the Board for licensees so authorized, as well as all other Board regulations.

History

• Author: Dr. Larry Carter
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-20.
• New Rule: Filed August 28, 1995; effective October 2, 1995. Amended: Filed January 16, 2008; effective February 20, 2008.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-5-.09 Initial Licensing Of Military Spouses

Eligible individuals under this section who possess a license or certificate to practice optometry in another state, district, or territory of the United States, or in any branch of the armed forces of the United States may apply for a regular annual license to practice optometry and/or a temporary permit to practice pending regular licensure.

(a) Any eligible individual shall be entitled, upon application, to the issuance of regular license to practice optometry in the state of Alabama if the requirements for licensure or certification to practice optometry relied upon by the applicant for this section are the same as or substantially similar to those requirements for regular licensure to practice optometry set out in these rules or in the Alabama Code.

(b) Any eligible individual shall be entitled to a temporary permit to practice optometry in the state of Alabama for a period not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days, upon application, if the requirements for licensure or certification relied upon by the applicant for this section are less than or do not include one or more of the requirements for regular licensure to practice optometry set out in these rules or in the Alabama Code. In the event that the applicant does not successfully meet the requirements for regular licensure within the said one hundred eighty (180) days, the temporary permit provided for herein shall automatically expire.

(c) Definitions and Meaning. For the purposes of this section, the following terms and phrases shall have the corresponding meanings:

1. eligible individual shall mean

(i) either a spouse of an active duty, reserve, or transitioning member of the United States Armed Forces, including the national guard, or a surviving spouse of such a service member who, at the time of such member’s death, was serving on active duty; and

(ii) has relocated to and been stationed in the state of Alabama with their spouse or deceased spouse under official military orders; and

(iii) Possess a valid unrestricted license to practice optometry in another state, district, or territory of the United States, or in any branch of the armed forces of the United States and has not been disciplined or subject to investigation by any licensing agency or authorized entity in relation to their professional license or certificate.

2. temporary permit shall mean an unrestricted license to practice optometry in the state of Alabama for a period of one hundred and eighty (180) days from the date of issue. The holder of a temporary permit shall be subject to same rules, requirements, and discipline as that of a regularly licensed optometrist as set out in the Alabama Code and Chapter 630 of the Alabama Administrative Code.

3. substantially similar licensing requirements shall be deemed to have been met where the applicant can show to the satisfaction of the Board that he or she:

(i) is 19 years of age, or over, a citizen of the United States or, if not a citizen of the United States, a person who is legally present in the United States with appropriate documentation from the federal government, and of good moral character;

(ii) has a preliminary education of at least four years of high school or the equivalent and is a graduate thereof,

(iii) has at least three years of preoptometry, or the equivalent, at an accredited college or university;

(iv) has completed a course of study in an accredited school or college of optometry which is approved by the board and that requires at least four years of professional study;

(v) has passed all examinations prescribed by the board after completion of the educational requirements, which examinations shall include the standard examination given by the Board. Where an eligible individual under this section has taken and passed a standard examination given by another licensing authority, the eligible individual may submit the results of such standardized examination to the Board along with documentation showing the subject matter tested. If the Board determines that the breadth and depth of the subject matter tested on such standard examination is substantially similar to that standard examination given by the Board, the Board shall accept the results of such examination in lieu of the requirement for passage of the standard examination given by the Board.

History

• Author: Wallace D. Mills, Dr. Fred Wallace
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §
• New Rule: Published February 28, 2020; effective April 13, 2020.