463.0001 – Short Title.

463.0001 Short title.—This chapter shall be known as the “Optometry Practice Act.” History.—ss. 1, 21, ch. 86-289; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

463.001 – Purpose; Intent.

463.001 Purpose; intent.—The sole legislative purpose in enacting this chapter is to ensure that every person engaged in the practice of optometry in this state meets minimum requirements for safe practice. It is the legislative intent that such persons who fall below minimum standards or who otherwise present a danger to the public shall be prohibited […]

463.002 – Definitions.

463.002 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term: (1) “Board” means the Board of Optometry. (2) “Department” means the Department of Health. (3)(a) “Licensed practitioner” means a person who is a primary health care provider licensed to engage in the practice of optometry under the authority of this chapter. (b) A licensed practitioner who is not a certified optometrist shall […]

463.003 – Board of Optometry.

463.003 Board of Optometry.— (1) There is created within the department the Board of Optometry, composed of seven members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. (2) Five members of the board must be licensed practitioners actively practicing in this state. The remaining two members must be citizens of the state who are not, and have […]

463.004 – Board Headquarters.

463.004 Board headquarters.—The board shall maintain its official headquarters in the City of Tallahassee. History.—ss. 1, 6, ch. 79-194; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 20, 21, ch. 86-289; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

463.005 – Authority of the Board.

463.005 Authority of the board.— (1) The Board of Optometry has authority to adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this chapter conferring duties upon it. Such rules shall include, but not be limited to, rules relating to: (a) Standards of practice, including, but not limited to, those provided for in s. […]

463.0055 – Administration and Prescription of Ocular Pharmaceutical Agents.

463.0055 Administration and prescription of ocular pharmaceutical agents.— (1)(a) Certified optometrists may administer and prescribe ocular pharmaceutical agents as provided in this section for the diagnosis and treatment of ocular conditions of the human eye and its appendages without the use of surgery or other invasive techniques. However, a licensed practitioner who is not certified may use […]

463.0057 – Optometric Faculty Certificate.

463.0057 Optometric faculty certificate.— (1) The department may issue an optometric faculty certificate without examination to an individual who remits a nonrefundable application fee, not to exceed $100 plus the actual per applicant cost to the department, and who demonstrates to the board that she or he meets the following requirements: (a) Is a graduate of an accredited […]

463.006 – Licensure and Certification by Examination.

463.006 Licensure and certification by examination.— (1) Any person desiring to be a licensed practitioner pursuant to this chapter must apply to the department and must submit proof to the department that she or he: (a) Has completed the application forms as required by the board, remitted an application fee for certification not to exceed $250, remitted an […]

463.007 – Renewal of License; Continuing Education.

463.007 Renewal of license; continuing education.— (1) The department shall renew a license upon receipt of the renewal application and the fee set by the board not to exceed $300. (2) The department shall adopt rules establishing a procedure for the biennial renewal of licenses. (3) As a condition of license renewal, a licensee must demonstrate his or her […]

463.008 – Inactive Status.

463.008 Inactive status.— (1) The board shall adopt rules relating to application procedures for inactive status, for the biennial renewal of inactive licenses, and for the reactivation of licenses. The board shall prescribe by rule an application fee for inactive status, a renewal fee for inactive status, a delinquency fee, and a fee for the reactivation of […]

463.009 – Supportive Personnel.

463.009 Supportive personnel.—No person other than a licensed practitioner may engage in the practice of optometry as defined in s. 463.002(7). Except as provided in this section, under no circumstances shall nonlicensed supportive personnel be delegated diagnosis or treatment duties; however, such personnel may perform data gathering, preliminary testing, prescribed visual therapy, and related duties under […]

463.011 – Exhibition of License.

463.011 Exhibition of license.—Each person to whom a license or branch office license is issued by the department shall keep said license conspicuously displayed in the appropriate office and shall, whenever required, exhibit said license to any authorized representative of the department. History.—ss. 1, 6, ch. 79-194; s. 317, ch. 81-259; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; […]

463.012 – Prescriptions; Filing; Release; Duplication.

463.012 Prescriptions; filing; release; duplication.— (1) A licensed practitioner shall keep on file for a period of at least 2 years any prescription she or he writes. (2)(a) A licensed practitioner shall make available to the patient or her or his agent any spectacle prescription or duplicate copy determined for that patient. Such prescription shall be considered a […]

463.013 – Optometric Services for Certain Public Agencies.

463.013 Optometric services for certain public agencies.—Any agency of the state or county or any commission, clinic, or board administering relief, social security, health insurance, or health service under the laws of the state shall accept the services of licensed practitioners for the purposes of diagnosing and correcting any and all visual, muscular, neurological, and anatomic […]

463.0135 – Standards of Practice.

463.0135 Standards of practice.— (1) A licensed practitioner shall provide that degree of care which conforms to that level of care provided by medical practitioners in the same or similar communities. A licensed practitioner shall advise or assist her or his patient in obtaining further care when the service of another health care practitioner is required. (2) A […]

463.014 – Certain Acts Prohibited.

463.014 Certain acts prohibited.— (1)(a) No corporation, lay body, organization, or individual other than a licensed practitioner shall engage in the practice of optometry through the means of engaging the services, upon a salary, commission, or other means or inducement, of any person licensed to practice optometry in this state. Nothing in this section shall be deemed […]

463.0141 – Reports of Adverse Incidents in the Practice of Optometry.

463.0141 Reports of adverse incidents in the practice of optometry.— (1) Effective January 1, 2014, an adverse incident occurring in the practice of optometry must be reported to the department in accordance with this section. (2) The required notification must be in writing and submitted to the department by certified mail. The required notification must be postmarked within […]

463.015 – Violations and Penalties.

463.015 Violations and penalties.— (1) Each of the following acts constitutes a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084: (a) Practicing or attempting to practice optometry without a valid active license issued pursuant to this chapter. (b) Attempting to obtain or obtaining a license to practice optometry by fraudulent misrepresentation. […]

463.016 – Grounds for Disciplinary Action; Action by the Board.

463.016 Grounds for disciplinary action; action by the board.— (1) The following acts constitute grounds for denial of a license or disciplinary action, as specified in s. 456.072(2): (a) Procuring, or attempting to procure, a license to practice optometry by bribery, by fraudulent misrepresentations, or through an error of the department or board. (b) Procuring, or attempting to procure, […]