Title 40, Professions and Occupations

(A) In the diagnosis and treatment of ocular and ocular adnexal eye disease, documentation in the patient's chart and appropriate consultations and referrals must be in keeping with the standards of care provided for in this section. (B) In the diagnosis or treatment of eye disea…

(A) An optometrist shall post in a conspicuous place the office hours that he or she will maintain. Office hours are those hours in which a licensed optometrist is actually present on the premises; however, this section does not prevent the office from being open for the purpose …

Nothing in this chapter may be construed to limit the number or to prescribe or restrict the location of offices an individual optometrist or group of optometrists may operate. Every optometrist must display a separate certificate of licensure certified by the board in each locat…

(A) Whenever it is required by law that a visual test of the eye must be made or optometric care of the eye is required of a person by a school or college or a state or county agency, the test or care may be given by an optometrist licensed in this State. When a person is require…

(A) This chapter does not apply to: (1) a bona fide student of optometry, medicine, or osteopathy in the clinic rooms or an approved program of an accredited school of optometry, medicine, or osteopathy; (2) a commissioned officer in the armed services who is engaged in the pract…

Nothing contained in this chapter or any other provision of law may be construed to restrict or set the price that may be charged for eyeglasses.

Nothing in this chapter or any other provision of law may be construed to prevent an optometrist licensed under this chapter from maintaining and operating a laboratory required for private professional practice.

(A) It is unlawful for a person, partnership, or corporation that provides optometric services to disseminate, directly or indirectly, or cause to be disseminated any untruthful, deceptive advertisement or representation concerning eye examinations, ophthalmic goods, ophthalmic s…

(A) The board shall: (1) determine the eligibility of applicants for examination and licensure as optometrists; (2) prescribe the subjects, character, and manner of licensing examinations; (3) adopt a code of professional ethics appropriate to the profession of optometry; (4) eva…

No member of the board, its committees, special examiners, agents, and employees may be held liable for acts performed in the course of official duties except where actual malice is shown.

If a provision of this chapter or the application of a provision to a person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the…

(A) An optometrist licensed for basic practice of optometry as of July 1, 2005, may continue to practice under the conditions provided for in this section, and regulations promulgated under this chapter, as of July 1, 2005, until September 30, 2008. A basic certified optometrist …

Unless otherwise provided for in this chapter, Chapter 1 of Title 40 applies to optometrists regulated by the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. If there is a conflict between this chapter and Article 1, Chapter 1 of Title 40, the provisions of this chapter control.

(A) The board must be administered by the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation in accordance with Chapter 1 of Title 40. The department shall provide all administrative, fiscal, investigative, inspectional, clerical, secretarial, and license renewal operations and activi…

For the purpose of conducting an investigation under this chapter, the department shall subpoena witnesses, take evidence, and require the production of any documents or records that the board considers relevant to the inquiry. The department shall administer oaths and issue subp…

The results of all investigations must be presented to the board. If from these results it appears that a violation has occurred or that a licensee has become unfit to practice optometry, the board, in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act, may take disciplinary actio…

(A) There is created the South Carolina Board of Examiners in Opticianry which consists of seven members. Five members must be licensed opticians appointed by the Governor upon nomination by all licensed opticians in this State through an election conducted by the board. The Gove…

The board may seek to enjoin violations of this chapter as provided for in Section 40-1-100.

(A) In addition to the grounds for disciplinary action provided in Section 40-1-110, the board may revoke, suspend, or otherwise restrict or limit the license of an optician or reprimand or otherwise discipline a licensee when it is established upon a satisfactory showing to the …

The board has jurisdiction over the action of licensees and former licensees as provided for in Section 40-1-115.

In addition to the sanctions the board may take against a person pursuant to Section 40-38-110, the board may take disciplinary action against a person as provided for in Section 40-1-120.

As provided for in Section 40-1-130, the board may deny licensure to an applicant based on the same grounds for which the board may take disciplinary action against a licensee.

A license for opticianry may be denied based on a person's prior criminal record as provided for in Section 40-1-140.

A licensee under investigation for a violation of this chapter or a regulation promulgated under this chapter may voluntarily surrender the license in accordance with Section 40-1-150.

A person aggrieved by a final action of the board may seek review of the decision in accordance with Section 40-1-160.

A person found in violation of this chapter or regulations promulgated under this chapter may be required to pay costs associated with the investigation and prosecution of the case in accordance with Section 40-1-170.

All costs and fines imposed pursuant to this chapter must be paid in accordance with and are subject to the collection and enforcement provisions of Section 40-1-180.

All investigations and proceedings undertaken under the provisions of this chapter are confidential and all communications are privileged as provided for in Section 40-1-190.

As used in this chapter: (1) "Optician" means one who prepares and dispenses lenses, spectacles, eyeglasses, and appurtenances to the intended wearers on prescriptions from licensed physicians or optometrists and in accordance with these prescriptions, mechanically interprets, me…

A person who violates a provision of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than fifty thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year. Each violation constitutes a separate offense. Penalties provided for in this chapter or in …

In addition to initiating a criminal proceeding for a violation of this chapter, the board also may seek civil penalties and injunctive relief in accordance with Section 40-1-210.

(A) A person desiring to be examined by the board must submit an application furnished by the board sixty days before the examination. The application must be accompanied by a fee established by the board in regulation and in accordance with Section 40-1-50(D). (B) An applicant f…

(A) A person is qualified to receive a certificate of licensure as an optician if the person has: (1) graduated from an accredited public or private high school or secondary school of equal grade approved by the board or has completed an equivalent course of study approved by the…

The board shall promulgate regulations for apprentice registration requirements and fees and for the regulation of apprentices and apprenticeships.

(A) A licensed optician or registered apprentice who desires to continue to be licensed or registered in this State annually, on or before the first day of October, shall pay a renewal fee, to be established by the board in regulation and in accordance with Section 40-1-50(D). In…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, with respect to contact lenses, an optician shall act upon receipt of and based on a prescription for the lenses by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Nothing in this chapter may be construed to allow an optician to fit contact lenses o…

The services and appliances related to ophthalmic dispensing must be dispensed, furnished, or supplied to the intended wearer or user only upon prescription issued by a physician or an optometrist; however, duplications, replacements, reproductions, or repetitions may be provided…

It is unlawful for an ophthalmic manufacturer, wholesale supply house, or any of their employees, whether licensed as an optician or unlicensed, to dispense spectacles to the public from its manufacturing or wholesale locations.

It is unlawful for a person to practice as an optician without being licensed in accordance with this chapter. A person who displays a sign or in any way advertises himself to be an optician is deemed to be practicing opticianry within the meaning of this chapter.

(A) It is unlawful for an optician to permit his license to be used by an unlicensed person, and it is unlawful for an unlicensed person to practice or attempt to practice or conduct optician business under the rights and privileges conferred upon another person who is a licensed…

(A) It is unlawful for a person to disseminate, directly or indirectly, or cause to be disseminated any untruthful, deceptive advertisement, or representation concerning eye examinations, ophthalmic goods, ophthalmic services, or the practice of opticianry. It is unlawful for a p…

Nothing in this chapter prevents opticians from using third-party solicitation which does not involve uninvited, in-person solicitation of persons who, because of their particular circumstances, may be vulnerable to undue influences.

The board has no authority to promulgate regulations governing the employment of opticians, the location of optical stores, the number of optical stores operated, the advertising of optical products or services, or the manner in which these products can be displayed.

Dispensing opticians may hold themselves out as doing business and may advertise under their corporate name, trade name, or as successor to another optician in the State, and the board may not promulgate regulations restricting these rights.

(A) A person to whom a certificate of licensure is granted under this chapter shall display it in a conspicuous place in the person's principal office or place of business or employment. A separate certificate of licensure as a contact lens optician granted by the board also must…

Notices required by this chapter may be sent by registered mail, return receipt requested, to the person's last mailing address furnished to the board. The post office registration receipt signed by the recipient, his agent, or a responsible member of his household or office staf…