1. (a) The board shall issue a provisional license to practice optometry or therapeutic optometry to an applicant who:

   1. (1) is licensed in good standing as an optometrist or therapeutic optometrist in another state that has licensing requirements that are substantially equivalent to the requirements of this chapter;
   2. (2) has passed a national or other examination recognized by the board relating to the practice of optometry or therapeutic optometry; and
   3. (3) is sponsored by a person licensed by the board under this chapter with whom the provisional license holder may practice.
2. (b) The board may waive the requirement of Subsection (a)(3) for an applicant if the board determines that compliance is a hardship to the applicant.

3. (c) A provisional license is valid until the date the board approves or denies the provisional license holder's application for a license. The board shall issue a license under this chapter to the holder of a provisional license under this section if:

   1. (1) the provisional license holder passes the examination required by Section 351.253 and satisfies other license requirements under this chapter; and
   2. (2) the board verifies that the provisional license holder meets the academic and experience requirements for a license under this chapter.
4. (d) The board must complete the processing of a provisional license holder's application for a license not later than the 180th day after the date the board issues the provisional license. The board may extend the 180-day limit if the results of an examination administered or graded by a testing organization have not been received by the board.

Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.