The Board proposes the rule amendment to update requirements for the licensure examination and the Florida Practical Examination.

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Board of Optometry

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

64B13-4.001Examination Requirements

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Board proposes the rule amendment to update requirements for the licensure examination and the Florida Practical Examination.

SUMMARY: Language regarding requirements for the licensure examination and the Florida Practical Examination will be updated.

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 and the substance of the rule, determined that a Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs (SERC) was not necessary because the rule has no impact on any persons or businesses; 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: 456.017(1), 463.005, 463.006(2) FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 456.013, 456.017(1), 463.006(2), (3) 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: Joe R. Baker, Jr., Acting Executive Director, Board of Optometry, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin # C07, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3257, telephone: [phone], or by electronic mail – [e-mail].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

64B13-4.001 Examination Requirements.

(1) Licensure Examination. The licensure examination authorized in Section 463.006(2), F.S., shall consist of the following parts:

(a) through (b) No change.

(c) A written examination on applicable Florida laws and rules governing the practice of optometry developed yearly by Florida Board of Optometry approved consultants in conjunction with NBEO, and administered by NBEO as Part IV of its examination. The Board shall review and approve the content of the laws and rules examination annually. A score of eighty-four percent (84%) or better must be obtained in order to achieve a passing score on Part IV of the NBEO examination.

(d) The Florida Practical Examination. The Florida Practical Examination shall be developed by consultants approved by the Florida Board of Optometry in conjunction with the NBEO, and shall be administered by the NBEO as part of the NBEO National Clinical Skills examination.

1. No change.

2. The Florida Practical Examination shall include consist of the following tested skills.  Because the Board requires passage of all three (3) skills on the same test attempt, the three (3) skills are weighted equally.

a. through c. No change.

d.  Gonioscopy

e.  Tonometry

3. The passing score for each skill shall be seventy-five percent (75%) or better, and a passing score on each of the three (3) skills must be obtained on the same test attempt.

(2) Passing Scores.

(a) An applicant for licensure must achieve a passing score on all four (4) parts of the licensure examination in order to be licensed in Florida. The pPassing scores for the Florida Practical Examination and Laws and Rules portion of the NBEO licensure examination is are as set by the Board in this rule. Passing scores for the Patient Assessment and Management portion and the Clinical Skills portion of the NBEO licensure examination are established by the NBEO.

(b) through (c) No change.

(3) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 456.017(1), 463.005, 463.006(2) FS. Law Implemented 456.013, 456.017(1), 463.006(2), (3) FS. History–New 11-13-79, Amended 5-28-80, 7-10-80, 8-20-81, 2-14-82, 6-6-82, 10-3-82, 4-10-84, 5-29-85, Formerly 21Q-4.01, Amended 7-21-86, 11-20-86, 7-27-87, 7-11-88, 7-18-91, 4-14-92, Formerly 21Q-4.001, Amended 2-14-94, Formerly 61F8-4.001, Amended 8-8-94, 11-21-94, 4-21-96, Formerly 59V-4.001, Amended 7-27-99, 7-15-02, 3-8-04, 4-22-10, 10-13-10, 7-21-11, 6-5-12, 2-27-14, 11-5-14, 9-30-15, 9-7-17, 1-24-18, 10-2-18,                        .

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Board of Optometry

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

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: January 14, 2022

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: January 25, 2022