Title 12, Professions and Occupations
0 chapters · 1,262 sections in this title.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-101 Legislative declaration
1.0K chars
The practice of optometry in the state of Colorado is declared to affect the public health and safety and is subject to regulation and control in the public interest. Optometry is declared to be a learned profession, and it is further declared to be a matter of public interest an…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-102 Applicability of common provisions
0.2K chars
Articles 1, 20, and 30 of this title 12 apply, according to their terms, to this article 275. Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1410, � 1, effective October 1.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-102.5 Definitions
5.4K chars
As used in this article 275, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) Board means the state board of optometry created in section 12-275-107 (1)(a). Source: L. 2025: Entire section added, (SB 25-275), ch. 377, p. 2041, � 59, effective August 6. 12-275-103. Practice of optometry…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-103 Practice of optometry defined - prescribing drugs - therapeutic optometrist - rule
10.4K chars
(1) (a) As used in this article 275, the “practice of optometry” means the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of diseases, disorders, or conditions of the vision system, eyes, and adjacent and associated structures, including the use or prescription of lenses, prisms…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-104 Proprietor defined
2.6K chars
(1) The term proprietor, as used in this article 275, includes any person, group, association, or corporation not licensed under this article 275 who: (a) For financial gain, employs optometrists in the operation of an optometry office; (b) Places, directly or indirectly, in poss…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-105 Persons entitled to practice optometry - title protection of optometrists
0.6K chars
It shall be unlawful for any person to practice optometry in this state except those who are duly licensed optometrists pursuant to the provisions of this article 275. A person licensed as an optometrist pursuant to the provisions of this article 275 may use the title “optometris…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-106 Persons excluded from operation of this article
1.4K chars
(1) This article 275 does not apply to: (a) Professional practice by a physician or surgeon licensed to practice medicine under the laws of the state of Colorado and ancillary or technical assistants working under the direction of a licensed physician or surgeon, with the excepti…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-107 State board of optometry - created - members
2.0K chars
(1) (a) The state board of optometry is created and is under the supervision and control of the division as provided by section 12-20-103 (2). The board is a type 1 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105. The board consists of five optometrists and two members-at-large, to be app…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-108 Powers and duties of the board - rules - limitation on authority
2.4K chars
(1) In addition to all other powers and duties conferred upon the board by this article 275, the board has the following powers and duties: (a) To determine acceptability of scores from tests administered by any approved or accredited national testing organization; (b) To adopt r…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-109 Volunteer optometrist license
2.4K chars
(1) A person licensed to practice optometry pursuant to this article 275 may apply to the board for volunteer licensure status. The board shall designate the form and manner of the application. The board may: (a) Grant the application by issuing a volunteer license; or (b) Deny t…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-110 Application for license - licensure by endorsement
4.6K chars
(1) A person who desires to practice optometry in the state may file with the board an application for a license, giving the information required in a form and manner approved by the board. The applicant shall demonstrate that the applicant possesses the following qualifications:…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-111 Current licensees - treatment and therapeutic practice
0.7K chars
On and after July 1, 1988, a person who is licensed under this article 275 as an optometrist on June 30, 1988, and who is otherwise qualified under this article 275 may use prescription or nonprescription drugs for examination purposes. However, the optometrist may use prescripti…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-112 Examination - licenses
4.7K chars
(1) The applicant shall take and submit test scores from the board-approved exam. The examination shall be of such a character as to test the qualifications of the applicant to practice optometry. (2) Each person who makes a passing grade on the practical and clinical examination…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-113 Use of prescription and nonprescription drugs - limits on prescriptions
2.5K chars
(1) Notwithstanding section 12-280-120, a licensed optometrist may purchase, possess, and administer prescription or nonprescription drugs for examination purposes only if, after July 1, 1983, the optometrist has complied with the following minimum requirements: Successful comple…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-114 Prescriptions - requirement to advise patients
0.6K chars
(1) An optometrist licensed under this article 275 may advise the optometrist's patients of their option to have the symptom or purpose for which a prescription is being issued included on the prescription order. (2) An optometrist's failure to advise a patient under subsection (…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-115 License renewal - questionnaire - continuing education
2.5K chars
(1) Licenses issued under this article 275 are subject to the renewal, expiration, reinstatement, and delinquency fee provisions specified in section 12-20-202 (1) and (2). Any person whose license has expired shall be subject to the penalties provided in this article 275 or sect…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-116 Change of address
0.3K chars
Every person licensed under this article 275 shall notify the board in writing within thirty days of any change in mailing address. Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1420, � 1, effective October 1. Editor's note: This section is simila…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-117 Licenses to be displayed
0.9K chars
Every practitioner of optometry shall post and keep conspicuously displayed his or her license in the office wherein the optometrist practices. If an optometrist practices at several locations in the state, the optometrist shall display his or her license number and name in a man…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-118 Records to be kept by the board
1.7K chars
The board shall keep a record of all persons to whom licenses have been granted under this article 275. A copy of the records, certified by the board, shall be admitted in any of the courts of this state, in lieu of the originals, as prima facie evidence of the facts contained in…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-119 Patient’s exercise of free choice - release of patient records - rules
0.7K chars
(1) No person shall interfere with any patient’s exercise of free choice in the selection of practitioners licensed to perform examinations for refractions and visual training or corrections within the field for which their respective licenses entitle them to practice. (2) An opt…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-120 Unprofessional conduct - definitions
15.7K chars
(1) The term unprofessional conduct, as used in this article 275, means: (a) Deceiving or attempting to deceive the board or its agents with reference to any proper matter under investigation by the board; (b) Publishing or circulating, directly or indirectly, any fraudulent, fal…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-121 Mental and physical examination of licensees - confidential agreements to limit practice
4.8K chars
(1) If the board has reasonable cause to believe that a licensee is unable to practice with reasonable skill and safety, the board may require the licensee to submit to a mental or physical examination by a physician or qualified health-care provider designated by the board. If t…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-122 Discipline - procedure - professional review - immunity - reconsideration and review of action by board - rules
8.2K chars
(1) (a) With respect to licenses issued pursuant to this article 275, the board may: (I) Impose probation, with or without supervision, on a licensee, or take disciplinary or other action as authorized in section 12-20-404, for any reason stated in section 12-275-120 or for viola…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-123 Use or sale of forged or invalid certificate, degree, or license
1.0K chars
(1) It is unlawful for any person to use or attempt to use as the person's own a diploma of an optometry school or college, or a license of another person, or a forged diploma or license, or any forged or false identification. (2) It is unlawful: (a) To sell or offer to sell a di…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-124 Corporate practice prohibited - exceptions
0.5K chars
The practice of optometry in a corporate capacity is prohibited, but this prohibition does not apply to a professional corporation formed pursuant to this article 275 or to an optometry practice carried on by a nonprofit organization operating to assist indigent persons. Source: …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-125 Enforcement - injunction - defense
1.2K chars
(1) When the board has reasonable cause to believe that any person is violating any provision of this article 275 or any lawful rule issued under this article 275, it may, in addition to all actions provided for in this article 275 and without prejudice thereto, enter an order in…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-126 Unauthorized practice - penalties
8.1K chars
Any person who practices or offers or attempts to practice optometry without an active license issued under this article 275 is subject to penalties pursuant to section 12-20-407 (1)(a). Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1430, � 1, eff…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-127 Professional service corporations, limited liability companies, and registered limited liability partnerships for the practice of optometry - definitions
14.8K chars
(1) Persons licensed to practice optometry by the board may form professional service corporations for the practice of optometry under the “Colorado Business Corporation Act”, articles 101 to 117 of title 7, if the corporations are organized and operated in accordance with the pr…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-128 Financial responsibility - rules
2.7K chars
(1) Every optometrist who provides health-care services within the state of Colorado shall establish financial responsibility as follows: (a) By maintaining commercial professional liability insurance coverage with an insurance company authorized to do business in this state in a…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-129 Judgments and settlements - reporting
1.1K chars
Any final judgment, settlement, or arbitration award against an optometrist for malpractice shall be reported within fourteen days by the optometrist's malpractice insurance carrier in accordance with section 10-1-125 or by the optometrist if no commercial malpractice insurance c…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-275-130 Repeal of article - review of functions
0.5K chars
This article 275 is repealed, effective September 1, 2033. Before the repeal, the functions of the board performed pursuant to this article 275 are scheduled for review in accordance with section 24-34-104. Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 13…