Wyo. Code R. 056-0001-2
Optometry, Board of Examiners in
Chapter 2: Licensing Requirements & Application Process
Effective Date: 07/15/2005 to 11/07/2005
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 056.0001.2.07152005
Section 1. Education Requirement. Every applicant for licensure must be a graduate of a regularly established school or college of optometry requiring not less than four (4) years of instruction in the study of optometry. The institution must be accredited by:
(i) A regional or professional accreditation organization which is recognized and approved by the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation; or
(ii) The United States Department of Education (USDE) or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or their successor agencies.
Section 2. Examination Requirement. The Board requires the following to pass the examination requirement:
(a) Parts one (1), two (2), and three (3) of the Examination as administered by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry or their successor agencies;
(i) Re-examinations shall be in accordance with the requirements established by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, or their successor agencies.
(b) The State of Wyoming, Board of Examiners in Optometry's examination with a passing grade of seventy-five percent (75%) in each of the subjects involved.
(i) Successful completion of the State exam is required for all applicants.
(ii) The Board shall administer the State exam once (1) per year.
(iii) Special arrangements may be made with the Board if there is substantial need for the applicant to be examined and/or licensed prior to the next scheduled administration of the exam. The applicant shall bear the cost of administration of a special exam.
(iv) Applicants failing the State examination are entitled to re-take the next scheduled examination upon payment of the re-examination fee and shall be examined only in those subjects in which he/she failed to obtain a grade of eighty-five (85) percent or higher.
(a) All persons applying for licensure or volunteer certificate after July 1, 2005 shall be required to submit fingerprinting cards along with their application for the purpose of obtaining state and national criminal history record information.
(b) No applicant for licensure or a volunteer certificate shall have been convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude or controlled substances which may impair the applicant's ability to provide competent health care or which could pose a threat to the safety of the consumer public. A plea of nolo contendere shall establish guilt to the underlying criminal charge(s).
Section 4. Licensure by Examination. All applicants for licensure must insure the following documents are received by the Board thirty (30) days prior to the next scheduled examination:
(a) A complete and legible application with a recent, un-mounted, full-face photograph; (b) The required fee in the form of a money order or cashier's check; (c) An official transcript which reflects the award of a degree in optometry, mailed directly from the school to the Board; (d) Passing score verification for parts one (1), two (2), and three (3) of the examination from the National Board of Examiners in Optometry or their successor agencies mailed directly to the Board; (e) Three (3) letters of professional recommendation mailed directly to the Board from reputable practitioners of optometry attesting to the applicant's good reputation for honesty, trustworthiness, integrity and competence in the practice of optometry, (f) Individuals requesting special accommodations must notify the Board in writing in advance of the examination so that appropriate arrangements can be made; (g) Applications expire one (1) year from receipt.
Section 5. Licensure by Endorsement. The Board may license by endorsement, without examination, an Optometrist who holds a license that was obtained by examination from another state or territory of the United States subject to the following conditions:
(a) An applicant for licensure by endorsement must have been engaged in the active practice of Optometry for at least five (5) of the seven (7) years immediately preceding his/her application; (b) An applicant will not be considered for licensure by endorsement in the State of Wyoming if he/she has failed the Wyoming Examination within the ten (10) years preceding the date on which the application for endorsement is filed;
(c) The applicant must not have committed any act that would constitute a violation of the Wyoming State Board of Optometry Laws and Rules & Regulations. Furthermore, he/she must not be the subject of any pending or unresolved board action or malpractice suit in this or any other state or territory;
(d) An applicant for licensure by endorsement must meet all qualifications for regular state licensure and must meet or exceed the requirement set forth in Sections 1, 2 and 3 of Chapter 2, except that the applicant shall not be required to sit for any portion of the written examination other than the jurisprudence portion required by subparagraph 5 (e) of this rule.
(i) The Board may accept examinations other than those required in Chapter 2 Section 2 (a) as meeting this requirement.
(ii) The Board may require an applicant for licensure by endorsement to undertake further coursework and/or the written state examination if the applicant does not meet the requirements of Sections 1, 2 and 3 of Chapter 2.
(e) As part of the licensure process, the applicant shall complete an application for licensure by endorsement and shall:
(i) Submit all applicable fees as required by Chapter 4, Section 1.
(ii) License verification(s) must be submitted directly from the Boards of all state(s) in which the applicant holds or has ever held a license to practice Optometry certifying his/her good standing. To be considered for licensure by endorsement, an applicant licensed in another state or territory of the United States having the same or similar licensing requirements of the State of Wyoming, must be in good standing in that state or territory;
(iii) Submit official proof documenting his/her compliance with continuing education requirements imposed by states or territories in which a license to practice optometry is held;
(iv) Submit fingerprints; and
(v) Submit proof that he/she has taken and passed the jurisprudence portion of the licensing examination of the Wyoming State Board of Optometry.
Section 6. Licensure by Endorsement: Federal Service: In the case of any applicant for licensure by endorsement who has practiced optometry while in any branch of federal service, such applicant shall:
(a) Cause his/her commanding officer to provide the Board with official documentation of the applicant's credentialing and quality assurance review to satisfy the requirements of Section 5 of this Chapter.
(a) All licenses issued by the Board will contain the letter "T" following the license number to designate the holder as being qualified and authorized to use diagnostic and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents in his/her practice.
(b) Any person licensed by the Board prior to May 22, 1987 who intends to employ diagnostic and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents is required to complete a one hundred (100) hour course in ocular therapeutics and pass a nationally recognized examination in ocular therapeutics prior to the issuance of a therapeutically designated license.
Section 8. Notification of Applicants and Right of Appeal. If the Board application is approved, the applicant will be provided written notification along with information and instruction for sitting for the state examination. If the application is denied the reasons for the denial shall be communicated to the applicant in writing. The applicant shall have the right to submit new information and/or the right to appear before the Board to demonstrate that the licensure requirements have been met.
(a) Scope. A Volunteer's Certificate issued to a retired optometrist shall be used only for volunteer services and not for compensation.
(b) Qualifications. To qualify for a Volunteer's Certificate, an optometrist shall:
(i) For at least ten (10) years immediately prior to retirement, either have maintained full licensure in good standing in any jurisdiction in the United States that licenses persons to practice as an optometrist or have practiced in good standing as an optometrist in one (1) or more branches of the United States armed services;
(ii) Otherwise qualify for an active general license, except that the clinical board examination requirement is waived;
(iii) Provide proof of completion of required continuing education.
(c) Application for a Volunteer's Certificate. To apply for a Volunteer's Certificate an optometrist shall:
(i) Submit a completed application form provided by the Board and attach:
(A) A copy of the applicant's optometry degree from an accredited optometric school;
(B) One of the following, as applicable:
(I) A copy of the applicant's most recent license authorizing the practice of optometry; or
(II) A copy of the applicant's most recent license, or a license equivalent to practice optometry in one (1) or more branches of the United States armed services issued by the United States government.
(C) Evidence of one (1) of the following, as applicable:
(I) That the applicant has maintained, for at least ten (10) years immediately prior to retirement, full licensure in good standing in any jurisdiction in the United States that licenses persons to practice as an optometrist; or
(II) That the applicant has practiced for at least ten (10) years immediately prior to retirement in good standing as an optometrist in one (1) or more of the branches of the United States armed services; and
(D) A notarized statement from the applicant, on a form prescribed by the Board, that the applicant;
(I) Will not accept any form of remuneration for any optometric services rendered while in possession of a Volunteer's Certificate;
(II) Will devote his/her practice exclusively and totally to providing optometry services to low income, uninsured persons at a non-profit health care facility in this state; and
(III) Will provide any other documentation that the Board may reasonably require.
(d) Expiration Date of Certificate. A Volunteer's Certificate to practice optometry shall expire on December 31 of the year of the effective date of Certificate.
(e) Renewal of Certificate. A Volunteer's Certificate to practice optometry may be renewed if:
(i) A completed renewal form provided by the Board is submitted;
(ii) Continuing education requirements for an active general license to practice optometry in the state have been completed; and
(iii) The applicant has conformed to the standards set forth in Chapter 5, Section 1.
(f) Violations. Violations of this Chapter pertaining to a Volunteer's Certificate shall constitute unprofessional conduct and may result in a suspension or revocation of the Certificate.