NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1977 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 755

HOUSE BILL 1494

 

 

AN ACT TO REWRITE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR OPTICIANS.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  G.S. 90-236 is hereby amended by changing the period at the end of the paragraph to a comma and adding the words:

"provided, however, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to students and apprentices."

Sec. 2.  G.S. 90-237 is amended by rewriting subdivisions (2) and (3) and adding subdivisions (4) and (5) so as to read as follows:

"(2)      unless such person is at least 18 years of age;

(3)        unless such person has satisfactorily passed an examination conducted by the board to determine his fitness to engage in the practice of a dispensing optician;

(4)        unless such person is of good moral character as evidenced by two letters of recommendation;

(5)        unless such person has completed one year of practical apprenticeship training by working full time under the supervision of a licensed optician and has demonstrated proficiency in the areas of measurement of the face, and fitting and adjusting glasses and frames to the face."

Sec. 3.  G.S. 90-240 is hereby rewritten as follows:

"§ 90-240.  Qualifications for taking the examination; subjects examined. — Applicants to take the examination for dispensing opticians shall be high school graduates or equivalents with two years training in a recognized school of opticianry with a minimum of 1600 hours or in lieu thereof, five years of practical training and experience under a licensed optician with time spent in a recognized school credited as part of the apprenticeship period. The examination shall be confined to such knowledge as is essential to practice as a dispensing optician and shall show proficiency in the following subjects:

ophthalmic lens surface grinding;

prescription interpretation;

practical anatomy of the eye;

theory of light;

edge grinding;

ophthalmic lenses;

measurements of face;

finishing, fitting, and adjusting glasses and frames to face.

An applicant for admission on the basis of practical training shall have worked full time under the supervision of a licensed optician with concentration in ophthalmic lens surface grinding, edge grinding, ophthalmic lenses, mounting and general bench work; and prescription interpretation."

Sec. 4.  G.S. 90-241 is amended by changing the words and figures "twenty dollars ($20.00)" one line 3 to "thirty-five dollars ($35.00)".

Sec. 5.  G.S. 90-246 is amended by changing the words and figures "twenty-five dollars ($25.00)" on line 4 to "forty dollars ($40.00)".

Sec. 6.  G.S. 90-249 is hereby amended by deleting the first paragraph thereof and inserting in its place the following:

"The board shall have the power to make rules and regulations not inconsistent with the laws of the State of North Carolina to empower the board to have authority to make rules and regulations with respect to the following areas of the field of opticianry in North Carolina:

(1)        misrepresentation to the public

(2)        baiting or deceptive advertising

(3)        fining of repetitive violators of the law

(4)        requiring of continuing education

(5)        location of registrants in the State

(6)        legally established optical place of business registered with board

(7)        photograph for files for identification purposes

(8)        educational qualifications to sit for examination and subject matter

(9)        terms of licensure examination and re-examination

(10)      reinstatement of licensure

(11)      renewal fees, late penalty (up to number of dollars)

(12)      recognized schools of opticianry accredited by the National Academy of Opticians

(13)      apprenticeship requirements and registration of apprentices

(14)      additional training requisite to licensure.

The board shall have the power to revoke any certificate of registration granted by it under this Article for conviction of crime."

Sec. 7.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1977.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 27th day of June, 1977.