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Board of Dispensing Opticians

Educational Programs


An applicant for licensure must either be the graduate of a two (2) year Board approved opticianry school or complete the three (3) year Tennessee Apprenticeship Training Program.

Applicants must be ABO (American Board of Opticianry) and NCLE (National Contact Lens Examiners) certified.  For more information regarding the ABO/NCLE examinations, please visit their website at http://www.abo-ncle.org/basiccertificationexam/. In addition to the ABO/NCLE examinations, all applicants must take the practical examination.  Roy Ferguson, Ph.D., with the Learning Curve, 120 Bruce Street, Sevierville, Tennessee 37862 administers the practical examination and the exam fee is $295.00.  The practical exam is given approximately three (3) times per year.  Before applicants are eligible to sit for the practical examination, the Board of Dispensing Opticians must approve their licensure application.

2011 Schedule for Practical Examination:

March 7, 2011; July 18, 2011; and November 7, 2011


Educational Programs


Opticianry Schools in Tennessee:

Roane State Community College
276 Patton Lane
Harriman, TN 37748

Phone: (865) 354-3000
Phone: (800) 343-9104

Tennessee Apprenticeship Training Program:
A minimum of three (3) years and a total of five thousand, two hundred and fifty (5,250) hours of full-time or part-time education and training under qualified supervision.
Recommended Study Material 

Opticianry Schools Outside Tennessee:

Dekalb Technical College
495 North Indian Creek Drive
Clarkston, GA 30021

Phone: (404) 297-9522

Hillsborough Community College
4001 W. Tampa Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33614-7820

Phone: (813) 253-7000

J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
P.O. Box 85622
Richmond, VA 23285-5622

Phone: (804) 371-3000

Continuing Education


Continuing Education

Failure to comply with continuing education requirements may result in disciplinary action against the licensee or registrant. The disciplinary action will be reported on the Department of Health license verification web site.

2011 Approved Continuing Education Courses

2011 One (1) hour Jurisprudence CE Credit

Section 63-14-106, Tennessee Code Annotated, as amended in 1975, requires that the Tennessee Board of Dispensing Opticians approve a minimum number of hours of continuing education that must be completed during the calendar year in order to maintain your Dispensing Optician’s license.

The Tennessee Board of Dispensing Opticians met on January 5, 2011 to conduct Board business and establish the 2011 continuing education requirements. Per Rule 0480-1-.12(1)(a):  Each person licensed by the Board is required to complete clock hours of continuing education during each calendar year. CE requirements will be set each January by the Board and licensees will be notified in writing.

For the year 2011, the Board set the following CE requirements:

Four (4) hours Spectacles
Two (2) hours Contacts (not to exceed four (4) hours)
Two (2) hours Optional
One (1) hour Jurisprudence

Pursuant to rule 0480-1-.12(1)(b):  Each licensee must retain proof of attendance and completion of all continuing education requirements. This documentation must be retained for a period of four (4) years from the end of the calendar year in which the continuing education was required. This documentation must be produced for inspection and verification, if requested in writing by the Board during its continuing education verification process. The Board will not maintain continuing education files. (c) The licensee must, within thirty (30) days of a request from the board, provide evidence of continuing education activities. Certificates verifying the licensee’s attendance or original letters from course providers are such evidence.

No allowance will be made for prior or subsequent year’s accumulation. The Board may, at its sole discretion, waive the annual education requirement in cases of certified illness, disability or other undue hardships (T.C.A.§ 63-14-106 (a) (2)). All requests for a waiver of the education requirements must be submitted in writing and must include supporting documentation such as certified doctor’s statement, etc.

Courses offered by professional organizations of state level, in state or out of state, may be approved. PRIOR APPROVAL BY THE BOARD MUST BE SECURED. A record of approved courses is maintained in the Board’s administrative office. However, if you plan to attend courses other than those already approved by the Board, you must request a course approval packet from the Board office, complete the appropriate forms and attach complete course information. The packet must be submitted to the Board office for approval forty-five (45) days prior to attendance. Each individual must request this approval for themselves. No courses will be approved after the fact.

If any organization offers a course that does not meet the Board’s criteria, it will not be approved. It is your responsibility to determine if the courses you attend have the Tennessee Board of Dispensing Optician’s final approval.

The following are NOT acceptable: duplicate courses (same subject, same speaker, same year), in-house training courses and correspondence courses.

Out of state attendance rosters must be signed if you attend a seminar outside the Tennessee limits. Staff in charge of the continuing education courses you attend must complete proof of attendance forms. The original attendance forms should be returned to you. You must retain documentation verifying attendance at any courses.

Licensure

Licensure Information