Apprenticeship Requirements and Training Program

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Board of Opticianry

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
64B12-16.003: Apprenticeship Requirements and Training Program

NOTICE OF CHANGE

Notice is hereby given that the following change has been made by the Board to the proposed rule to modify the rule language and Apprentice Optician Application to modify two history questions on the application and to address concerns raised by JAPC about sponsor information in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 35, No. 2, of the January 16, 2009, issue of the Florida Administrative Weekly. No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared. It was determined that this rule will not affect small businesses. Any person who wishes to provide information regarding the statement of estimated costs, or to provide a proposal for a lower regulatory cost alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

The rule shall read as:

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 03/09), hereby adopted and incorporated by reference, which can be obtained from the Board’s website 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) An apprentice shall have no more than two sponsors at any given time. If an apprentice has two sponsors, one sponsor shall be the primary sponsor responsible for the secondary sponsor and the apprentice. The primary sponsor shall be responsible for the completion, filing, signature and verification of the Apprenticeship Sponsor Attestation Form (DH-MQA 1063, revised 11/08 1/02) which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference, which can be obtained from the Board’s website at www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/opticianry and is available from the Board office at Department of Health, Board of Opticianry, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #CO8, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3258. The secondary sponsor may work with the apprentice in a store or office other than the primary store or office as long as the apprentice works under the apprenticeship requirements and training program.

(3) through (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 physician, ophthalmologist, or an optician pursuant to subsection 64B12-10.009(1), F.A.C., or the apprentice must complete a Board-approved course equivalent to 32 hours as a substitute for working experience with contact lenses. 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

Although the lecture sessions may be open to any number of students, the hands on sessions shall be limited to 20 students per qualified instructor and three assistant instructors. A qualified instructor 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-Ccertified or equally qualified to the instructor. Any request for 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 31 days.

Rulemaking Specific 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,________.

 

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