1. (a) An optometrist who meets the requirements of this section is exempt from the continuing education requirements of 12 AAC 48.200 (a) - (c) and 12 AAC 48.220(a) - (c) as specified in this section for renewal of an optometrist license for the biennial licensing period immediately following a period of service by an optometrist during which an optometrist was engaged in active duty military service in the armed forces of the United States, in a combat zone, danger pay post, or qualified hazardous duty area.
2. (b) To obtain an exemption under this section, an optometrist must submit official documentation satisfactory to the board of active duty military service, in a combat zone, danger pay post, or qualified hazardous duty area.
3. (c) The board will waive half of the continuing education hours required in 12 AAC 48.210 if the board determines that the applicant was engaged in active duty military service in the armed forces of the United States, in a combat zone, danger pay post, or qualified hazardous duty area, for at least six consecutive months during the concluding licensing period.
4. (d) The board will waive all continuing education hours required in 12 AAC 48.210 if the board determines that the applicant was engaged in active duty military service in the armed forces of the United States in a combat zone, danger pay post, or qualified hazardous duty area, for 12 or more months during the concluding licensing period.

5. (e) in this section,

   1. (1) "engaged in active duty military service" means military personnel serving in an active capacity, including
   2. (2) "combat zone" means an area that the President of the United States designates by executive order as an area in which the armed forces of the United States are engaging or have engaged in combat;
   3. (3) "danger pay post" means a post so designated by the United States Secretary of State in the Department of State Standardized Regulations for purposes of danger pay under 5 U.S.C. 5828; and
   4. (4) "qualified hazardous duty area" means an area that, during the applicant's deployment, is treated as if it were a combat zone for purposes of a federal tax exemption under 26 U.S.C. 112 (Internal Revenue Code).

   active duty personnel in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Guard, or reservists;

(Eff. 7/19/2009, Register 191; am 2/21/2019, Register 229)

Authority: AS 08.01.100, AS 08.72.050, AS 08.72.181