Sec. 20-130. Qualifications for practice of optometry. Examination. Fees.
Sec. 20-130. Qualifications for practice of optometry. Examination. Fees. Each
person, before beginning the practice of optometry in this state, except as hereinafter
provided, shall present to the Department of Public Health satisfactory evidence that
such person has been graduated from a school of optometry approved by the board of
examiners with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health. The board shall
consult, where possible, with nationally recognized accrediting agencies when approving schools of optometry. All applicants shall be required to successfully complete an
examination prescribed by the Department of Public Health with the consent of the board
of examiners, in theoretic, practical and physiological optics, theoretic and practical
optometry, ocular pharmacology, treatment and management of ocular disease, and the
anatomy and physiology of the eye; and said department shall determine the qualifications of the applicant and, if they are found satisfactory, shall give a license to that effect.
Passing scores shall be established by the department with the consent of the board. The
department may, upon receipt of four hundred fifty dollars, issue a license to any person
who is a currently practicing competent practitioner who holds (1) a license issued to
such person after examination by a board of registration in optometry in any other state
or territory of the United States in which the requirements for registration are deemed
by the department to be equivalent to, or higher than, those prescribed in this chapter,
or (2) a Council on Endorsed Licensure Mobility for Optometrists certificate issued by
the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry, or its successor organization. No
license shall be issued under this section to any applicant against whom professional
disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint.
(1949 Rev., S. 4491; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 46; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 57; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 39; P.A. 73-147; P.A. 74-59;
P.A. 77-614, S. 302, 410, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 47, 176; P.A. 86-13, S. 3, 4; P.A. 89-251, S. 90, 203; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39;
P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 07-252, S. 30.)
History: 1959 act increased fee for preliminary examination from $5 to $25, substituted license for certificate, doubled
fee for same, increased examination fee from $35 to $50, making whole amount payable before examination, and deleted
provision for reexamination; 1971 act raised fee for licenses without examination from $100 to $150; 1972 act reduced
minimum age from 21 to 18 reflecting changed age of majority; P.A. 73-147 added provisions re acceptance of diploma
of National Board of Examiners in Optometry in lieu of examination; P.A. 74-59 prohibited disapproval of school solely
because it is outside United States, its territories or possessions and prohibited refusing application or license to qualified
person solely because he is not a citizen; P.A. 77-614 replaced secretary of the state board of education with commissioner
of education, transferred conduct of examination from board to department of health services, retaining board in supervisory
role and required consent of health services commissioner for acceptance of National Board diploma, effective January 1,
1979; P.A. 80-484 essentially transferred licensing powers to department, deleted requirement that applicant be over
eighteen and "of good moral character", specified that waiver of examination applicable to currently practicing competent
practitioners, required that board consult with recognized accrediting agencies and obtain consent of health services commissioner in approving schools, added provision re establishment of passing scores, prohibited issuing license to person
involved in disciplinary action or unresolved complaint and required that board be notified annually of number of applications; P.A. 86-13 required that examination test knowledge of ocular pharmacology; P.A. 89-251 increased the fee from
$150 to $450; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner
of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of
Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A.
07-252 deleted provision requiring applicants to present satisfactory evidence of graduation from 4-year course of study
in a public high school, or its equivalent, deleted provision requiring 4-year course of study at a school of optometry, deleted
criteria for approval of schools of optometry, rephrased examination requirements, added treatment and management of
ocular disease as component of examination, deleted language allowing department to accept a diploma of National Board
of Examiners in Optometry in lieu of requiring examination, rephrased qualifications for licensure for persons holding
licenses in other jurisdictions and for persons holding Council on Endorsed Licensure Mobility for Optometrists certificate,
deleted provisions re fees and deleted provisions requiring the department to annually inform board of the number of
applications for licensure without examination.
See Sec. 10-5 re high school equivalency diplomas.
See Sec. 10a-43 re issuance of postsecondary education certificate.
See note to Sec. 20-133a.
Cited. 130 C. 347.
Partnership cannot be licensed to practice optometry. 21 CS 332.