The Board proposes the rule amendment to delete unnecessary language and to add new language to the apprenticeship requirements and training program.

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Board of Opticianry

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

64B12-16.003Apprenticeship Requirements and Training Program

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Board proposes the rule amendment to delete unnecessary language and to add new language to the apprenticeship requirements and training program.

SUMMARY: The rule amendment will delete unnecessary language and add new language to the apprenticeship requirements and training program.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: During discussion of the economic impact of this rule at its Board meeting, the Board, based upon the expertise and experience of its members, determined that a Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs (SERC) was not necessary and that the rule will not require ratification by the Legislature. No person or interested party submitted additional information regarding the economic impact at that time.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 484.005 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 484.002, 484.007(1)(d)4. FS.

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAR.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Sue Foster, Executive Director, Board of Opticianry/MQA, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin # C08, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3258

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

64B12-16.003 Apprenticeship Requirements and Training Program

(1) Any persons seeking to be registered as an apprentice optician shall submit to the Board an Apprentice Optician Application (Form DH-MQA 1180, revised 7/13), hereby adopted and incorporated by reference, which can be obtained at www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/opticianry. All apprenticeship training must be conducted by the sponsor(s) with whom the apprentice is currently registered with the Agency. Credits shall be granted to apprentices if the training is properly documented according to this rule. An apprentice shall not receive credit for any training received from a person other than the properly registered sponsor(s). However, an apprentice can receive credit for attending continuing education courses by a board-approved provider pursuant to this rule.

(2) through (3) No change.

(4) An apprenticeship shall consist of 6,240 hours of training, completed within five years after the apprentice’s first registration with the Department. However, time spent in training at a board-approved school of opticianry or board-approved apprentice training program may be substituted for required apprenticeship time. Each credit hour earned at such school shall count as 86.67 apprenticeship hours. For each hour of the stated instructional time of a board-aproved apprentice training program shall count as five (5) apprenticeship hours for successfully completing the entire course.

(a) No change.

(b) Each sponsor may attend a Board-approved Apprentice/Sponsor Orientation course. This course will count toward either the elective or the laws and rules continuing education requirement pursuant to Rule 64B12-15.003, F.A.C.

(c) No change.

(5) No change.

(6) Total training received by an apprentice during apprenticeship must consist of training in the following subject areas:

(a) through (g) No change.

(h) Filling contact lens prescriptions, fitting, adapting and dispensing contact lenses if the sponsor is a Board-Certified optician, Florida-licensed optometrist or Florida-licensed allopathic or osteopathic physician, or an optician pursuant to subsection 64B12-10.009(1), F.A.C., or the apprentice must complete a Board-approved training program in contact lenses course equivalent to 32 hours of instructional time as a substitute for working experience with contact lenses. The Board has approved the following areas of study for the Florida Apprentice Contact Lens Training Course: Such course must include the following instruction:

1 hour – contact lens history

2 hours – anatomy and physiology of the eye

1 hour – patient selection

2 hours – contact lens technology

2 hours – basic optics for contact lenses

4 hours – basic fitting methods

1 hour – patient follow-up

1 hour – data collection and record keeping

2 hours – ordering and verification

2 hours – patient instruction

2 hours – problem solving

2 hours – specialty fittings

1 hour – ANSI Standards

1 hour – Florida laws and rules

8 hours – hands on practice

6 hours – introduction to contact lenses. Including but not limited to basic ocular anatomy, basic optics, basic lenses, fundamentals of instrumentation, nomenclature and patient instructions

2 hours – prefit and assessment

2 hours – diagnostic fit and evaluation

1 hour – lens dispensing and patient evalutation

1 hour – followup visits with the patient

1 hour – administrative procedures

3 hours – slit lamp and pathology

3 hours – Florida and Federal laws/rules related to contact lenses and dispensing

13 hours – practical hands on training component

Lecture, self study and hands-on Although the lecture sessions as well as blended teaching models are considered appropriate training and may be open to any number of students provided the following can be shown to be part of the training course;, the hands on sessions shall be limited to 20 students per qualified instructor and three assistant instructors.

Current and appropriate teaching models,

Qualified instructors,

Learning outcomes are articulated and comprehensive according to required course instruction, testing, and evlauation of student conprehension is completed after each area of study before they can proceed to the next area of study.

A qualified instructor for the training course in contact lenses is one who has been a Board-Certified optician, licensed optometrist or opthalmologist and actively engaged in contact lens fitting for 2 years immediately preceding instructorship or actively engaged as a contact lens instructor in an approved school of opticianry, an accredited school of optometry or an accredited medical school. The assistants must be Board-Certified or equally qualified to the instructor. Any request for program course approval must be submitted to the Board 30 days prior to the next Board meeting and must be reviewed every two years. The apprentice must complete the entire course within 18 months of enrolling course within 31 days.

(i) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 484.005 FS. Law Implemented 484.002, 484.007(1)(d)4. FS. History–New 10-12-80, Amended 8-31-83, 8-30-84, Formerly 21P-16.03, Amended 3-5-87, 7-15-87, 1-26-88, 3-30-89, 10-17-90, 5-27-92, 9-30-92, 1-27-93, Formerly 21P-16.003, Amended 9-14-93, 5-2-94, Formerly 61G13-16.003, Amended 2-21-96, 4-23-97, Formerly 59U-16.003, Amended 10-1-97, 2-16-99, 6-25-02, 4-11-06, 9-27-06, 4-19-07, 11-20-07, 5-25-09, 11-29-09, 5-19-10, 4-9-12,_____ .

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Board of Opticianry

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Board of Opticianry

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: June 7, 2013

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: November 12, 2013