OPTOMETRISTS

chapter 180	licensure of optometrists	
chapter 181	continuing education for optometrists	
chapter 182	practice of optometrists	
chapter 183	discipline for optometrists	
CHAPTER 180
LICENSURE OF OPTOMETRISTS
[Prior to 6/13/01, see 645—Chapter 180]
645—180.1(154) Definitions. For purposes of these rules, the following definitions will apply:
“Active license” means a license that is current and has not expired.
“Board” means the board of optometry.
“CELMO” means the Council on Endorsed Licensure Mobility for Optometrists.
“Grace period” means the 30-day period following expiration of a license when the license is still considered to be active.
“Inactive license” means a license that has expired because it was not renewed by the end of the grace period.
“Licensee” means any person licensed to practice as an optometrist in the state of Iowa.
“Licensure by endorsement” means the issuance of an Iowa license to practice optometry to an applicant who is or has been licensed in another state.
“Mandatory training” means training on identifying and reporting child abuse or dependent adult abuse required of optometrists who are mandatory reporters. The full requirements on mandatory reporting of child abuse and the training requirements are found in Iowa Code section 232.69. The full requirements on mandatory reporting of dependent adult abuse and the training requirements are found in Iowa Code section 235B.16.
“NBEO” means the National Board of Examiners in Optometry.
“Optometrist” means an optometrist who is licensed to practice optometry in Iowa and who is certified by the board of optometry to employ all diagnostic and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment of the conditions of the human eye and adnexa, excluding the use of injections other than to counteract an anaphylactic reaction, and notwithstanding Iowa Code section 147.107, may without charge supply any of the above pharmaceuticals to commence a course of therapy, with the exclusions cited in Iowa Code chapter 154.
“Reactivate” or “reactivation” means the process as outlined in rule 645—180.5(17A,147,272C) by which an inactive license is restored to active status.
“Reinstatement” means the process as outlined in rule 645—11.31(272C) by which a licensee who has had a license suspended or revoked or who has voluntarily surrendered a license may apply to have the license reinstated, with or without conditions.
“TPA” means therapeutic pharmaceutical agents.
[ARC 7974C, IAB 5/15/24, effective 6/19/24]
645—180.2(154) Requirements for licensure.
	180.2(1) The following criteria applies to licensure:
	a. 	Submit a completed online application and pay the non-refundable licensure fee specified in rule 645—5.12(147,154).
	b. 	Applicants will submit proof of satisfactory completion of all educational requirements contained in Iowa Code chapter 154 including official copies of academic transcripts sent directly to the board from an accredited school or college of optometry.
	c. 	Applicants will submit proof of passing all current NBEO examinations.
	d. 	An applicant who has been licensed in another state will provide verification of license from the jurisdiction in which the applicant has most recently been licensed, sent directly from the jurisdiction to the board office. The applicant must also disclose any public or pending complaints against the applicant in any other jurisdiction. Web-based verification may be substituted for verification direct from the jurisdiction’s board office if the verification provides:
	(1)	Licensee’s name;
	(2)	Date of initial licensure;
	(3)	Current licensure status; and
	(4)	Any disciplinary action taken against the license.
	180.2(2) Reserved.
[ARC 7974C, IAB 5/15/24, effective 6/19/24]
645—180.3(154) Licensure by endorsement.
	180.3(1) Applicants who have been licensed as an optometrist in another state may apply for licensure by endorsement by submitting the following:
	a. 	Verification the applicant meets the requirements of rule 645—180.2(154); and
	b. 	Verification of current competence to practice as an optometrist by satisfying one of the following criteria:
	(1)	Current CELMO certification;
	(2)	Practice as an optometrist for a minimum of 2,080 hours during the preceding two-year period;
	(3)	Employment as a faculty member teaching optometry in an accredited school of optometry for at least one academic year during the preceding two-year period;
	(4)	Completion of a minimum of 50 hours of continuing education during the preceding two-year period; or
	(5)	Passing the NBEO examination during the preceding two-year period.
	180.3(2) Licensure by verification. A person who is licensed in another jurisdiction but who is unable to satisfy the requirements for licensure by endorsement may apply for licensure by verification, if eligible, in accordance with rule 645—19.1(272C).
[ARC 7974C, IAB 5/15/24, effective 6/19/24]
645—180.4(154) License renewal.
	180.4(1) The biennial license renewal period for a license to practice optometry will begin on July 1 of an even-numbered year and end on June 30 two years later. The licensee is responsible for renewing the license prior to its expiration.
	180.4(2) An individual who was issued a license within six months of the license renewal date does not need to renew the license until the subsequent renewal two years later.
	180.4(3) A licensee applying for renewal will:
	a. 	Meet the continuing education requirements of rule 645—181.2(154) and the mandatory reporting requirements of subrule 180.5(4). A licensee whose license was reactivated during the current renewal compliance period may use continuing education credit earned during the compliance period for the first renewal following reactivation; and
	b. 	Submit the completed renewal application and renewal fee before the license expiration date.
	180.4(4) Mandatory reporter training requirements.
	a. 	A licensee who examines, attends, counsels, or treats children, dependent adults, or both in the scope of the licensee’s professional practice will complete the applicable department of health and human services training relating to the identification reporting of child abuse, dependent adult abuse, or both. Written documentation of training completion should be maintained for three years. The training is not required if the licensee is engaged in active duty military service or holds a waiver demonstrating a hardship in complying with these training requirements.
	b. 	The board may select licensees for audit of compliance with the requirements in 645—Chapter 181.
	180.4(5) A two-year license will be issued after the requirements of the rule are met. If the board receives adverse information on the renewal application, the board will issue the renewal license but may refer the adverse information for further consideration or disciplinary investigation.
	180.4(6) The license certificate and proof of active licensure will be displayed in a conspicuous public place at the primary site of practice.
	180.4(7) Late renewal. The license will become late when the license has not been renewed by the expiration date on the renewal. The licensee will be assessed a late fee as specified in 645—subrule 5.12(3). To renew a late license, the licensee will complete the renewal requirements and submit the late fee within the grace period.
	180.4(8) Inactive license. A licensee whose license is inactive continues to hold the privilege of licensure in Iowa, but may not practice until the license is reactivated.
[ARC 7974C, IAB 5/15/24, effective 6/19/24]
645—180.5(17A,147,272C) License reactivation. To apply for reactivation of an inactive license:
	180.5(1) Submit a completed online reactivation application and payment of the non-refundable application fee.
	180.5(2) If licensed in another jurisdiction, provide verification from the jurisdiction in which the licensee has most recently been licensed showing the licensee’s name, date of initial licensure, current licensure status, and any disciplinary action taken against the licensee.
	180.5(3) Verification of current competence to practice as an optometrist by satisfying one of the following criteria:
	a. 	Practice as an optometrist for a minimum of 2,080 hours during the preceding two-year period;
	b. 	Employment as a faculty member teaching optometry in an accredited school of optometry for at least one academic year during the preceding two-year period;
	c. 	Completion of a minimum of 50 hours of continuing education during the preceding two-year period; or
	d. 	Passing the NBEO examination during the preceding two-year period.
[ARC 7974C, IAB 5/15/24, effective 6/19/24]
645—180.6(17A,147,272C) License reinstatement. A licensee whose license has been revoked, suspended, or voluntarily surrendered must apply for and receive board-approved reinstatement of the license and must apply for and be granted reactivation of the license prior to practicing as an optometrist in this state.
[ARC 7974C, IAB 5/15/24, effective 6/19/24]
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapters 17A, 147, 154 and 272C.
[Filed 5/25/01, Notice 4/4/01—published 6/13/01, effective 7/18/01]
[Filed 7/18/02, Notice 5/15/02—published 8/7/02, effective 9/11/02]
[Filed 1/15/03, Notice 11/13/02—published 2/5/03, effective 3/12/03]
[Filed 4/8/04, Notice 2/4/04—published 4/28/04, effective 6/2/04]
[Filed 7/8/05, Notice 5/11/05—published 8/3/05, effective 9/7/05]◊
[Filed 1/13/06, Notice 10/26/05—published 2/1/06, effective 3/8/06]◊
[Filed 1/12/07, Notice 11/8/06—published 1/31/07, effective 3/7/07]
[Filed 10/14/08, Notice 8/27/08—published 11/5/08, effective 12/10/08]
[Filed ARC 9641B (Notice ARC 9519B, IAB 5/18/11), IAB 7/27/11, effective 8/31/11]
[Filed ARC 0899C (Notice ARC 0680C, IAB 4/3/13), IAB 8/7/13, effective 9/11/13]
[Filed ARC 3428C (Notice ARC 3223C, IAB 8/2/17), IAB 10/25/17, effective 11/29/17]
[Filed ARC 5071C (Notice ARC 4854C, IAB 1/15/20), IAB 7/1/20, effective 8/5/20]
[Filed ARC 5776C (Notice ARC 5458C, IAB 2/24/21), IAB 7/14/21, effective 8/18/21]
[Filed ARC 6374C (Notice ARC 6095C, IAB 12/15/21), IAB 6/29/22, effective 8/3/22]
[Filed ARC 7000C (Notice ARC 6656C, IAB 11/16/22), IAB 4/19/23, effective 5/24/23]
[Filed ARC 7974C (Notice ARC 7472C, IAB 1/10/24), IAB 5/15/24, effective 6/19/24]
◊	Two or more ARCs