that on October 23, 2018, a Notice of Intent to Approve Petition for Variance or Waiver with Conditions was filed. The Petition for Waiver or Variance was filed by Carolina Betancurt, O.D., September 7, 2018, seeking a waiver or variance from Rule ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Board of Optometry

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

64B13-4.004Manner of Application Approved Schools or Colleges

The Board of Optometry hereby gives notice: that on October 23, 2018, a Notice of Intent to Approve Petition for Variance or Waiver with Conditions was filed. The Petition for Waiver or Variance was filed by Carolina Betancurt, O.D., September 7, 2018, seeking a waiver or variance from subsection 64B13-4.004(2), F.A.C., with regard to the requirement that applicants for licensure as a certified optometrist must have graduated from an approved school or college that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Optometric Education. The Notice was published in Volume 44, No. 180, of the Florida Administrative Register, on September 14, 2018. The Board, at its meeting held on September 28, 2018, voted to grant the Petition for Waiver or Variance with conditions. The Board finds that granting a variance for the limited purpose of allowing Petitioner to register for the NBEO examination(s), would achieve a specific portion of the underlying purpose of section 463.006, F.S., by other means and would overcome a substantial hardship on Petitioner. Accordingly, the Board determined to grant the Petition for variance or waiver for the limited purpose of allowing Petitioner to register for the NBEO examination(s). As part of this decision, the Board specifically does not make any determination of whether the Petitioner will meet the requirements of paragraphs 463.006(1)(c) or (e), F.S., which are statutory criteria for licensure and thus cannot be waived or varied from pursuant to a section 120.542, F.S., petition.

A copy of the Order or additional information may be obtained by contacting: Anthony B. Spivey, Executive Director, Board of Optometry, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin # C07, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3257, telephone: [phone], or by electronic mail – [e-mail].