Washington Administrative Code

Individuals who are currently licensed in another state and satisfy all other licensing requirements and qualifications may receive a temporary practice permit while the national background check is completed. A licensed ocularist may obtain a temporary practice permit when in co…

A practitioner may obtain a retired active credential. Refer to the requirements of chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 5.[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.280. WSR 98-05-060, § 246-849-260, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.55.095. WSR 93-10-008 (Order 355), § 246…

The ocularist shall provide a written explanation of services to customers or patients. This explanation shall include at a minimum the type of prosthesis or service the customer or patient is receiving or purchasing. This explanation shall be signed by the customer or patient an…

(1) Licenses must be renewed every year on the practitioner's birthday as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC.(2) The following nonrefundable fees will be charged:Title of FeeFeeOriginal application and examination$370.00License renewal Renewal555.00 Late renewal penalty185.00Apprenti…

The definitions in RCW 18.200.010 and this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.(1) "Maintenance of an orthosis or prosthesis" includes replacement or repair of component parts that is equivalent to the original component and is req…

To qualify for licensure as either an orthotist or prosthetist, a candidate shall:(1) Possess a bachelor degree in orthotics or prosthetics from an approved orthotic or prosthetic educational program consistent with WAC 246-850-110; alternatively, a candidate may complete a certi…

An applicant for licensure shall submit to the department the following:(1) A completed application and fee as required in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2;(2) Official transcripts, certificate, or other documentation forwarded directly from the issuing agency where the applicant has e…

(1) An applicant shall submit evidence of successful completion of a clinical internship or residency approved by NCOPE or CAAHEP.(2) The clinical internship or residency in either orthotics or prosthetics must be at least one year in duration.(3) The combined clinical internship…

(1) An applicant for initial licensure as an orthotist shall successfully complete the following examinations:(a) As prepared and administered by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics:(i) The orthotic written multiple choice examination;(ii…

A practitioner may obtain an inactive credential. Refer to the requirements of chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 4.[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.200.050(1). WSR 98-21-086, § 246-850-090, filed 10/21/98, effective 11/21/98.]

A practitioner may obtain a retired active credential. Refer to the requirements of chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 5.[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.200.050(1). WSR 98-21-086, § 246-850-100, filed 10/21/98, effective 11/21/98.]

The secretary recognizes as approved those orthotic and prosthetic programs approved by NCOPE, CAAHEP or any other accrediting body with substantially equivalent requirements.[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.200.050. WSR 19-09-065, § 246-850-110, filed 4/16/19, effective 5/17/19. Sta…

Approval of an educational program may be withdrawn by the secretary, as provided in chapter 34.05 RCW and chapter 246-10 WAC, if the program:(1) Ceases to be approved by NCOPE or CAAHEP; or(2) Fails to maintain the accreditation standards of NCOPE or CAAHEP.[Statutory Authority:…

(1) The continuing competency reporting cycle begins with the first full three-year period after initial licensure. All orthotists and prosthetists shall attest to completion of continuing competency activities every year at renewal and shall comply with WAC 246-12-170 through 24…

Continuing competency activities are distinguished between activities which are sponsored by those organizations listed in subsection (1) of this section and those which are generally either independent or unsupervised, or both and are listed in subsection (2) of this section.(1)…

Licensed orthotists and prosthetists shall comply with continuing competency auditing and documentation requirements as required in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 7 and WAC 246-850-150. The secretary may require additional information as needed to complete the audit.[Statutory Authorit…

(1) Licenses must be renewed every year on the practitioner's birthday as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2.(2) The following nonrefundable fees will be charged:Title of FeeFeeOriginal application Orthotist application$265.00 Prosthetist application265.00Active renewal Ortho…

To be eligible to take the optometry examination, a person must be a graduate of an accredited school or college of optometry approved by the Washington state board of optometry. The board of optometry adopts the most current standards of the Council on Optometric Education, or i…

(1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section:(a) "Asynchronous" means the course instructor and learner are not together at the same time, have no real-time communications, and the content is learner-paced.(b) "Synchronous in-person" means the instructor i…

The board will not authorize or approve specific continuing education courses or materials. All continuing education courses must contribute to the professional knowledge and development of the practitioner, enhance services provided to patients, and contribute to the practitione…

(1) A minimum of 25 credit hours in category 1 must be earned in any two-year reporting period.(2) Credits may be obtained for education offered by the following optometry-specific course and program sources:(a) The American Optometric Association (AOA) and its state affiliates;(…

(1) A maximum 20 credit hours in category 2 may be earned in any two-year reporting period.(2) Credits may be obtained for education offered by the following nonoptometry-specific course and program sources:(a) Continuing medical education courses in category 1 and category 2 as …

(1) A maximum of 10 credit hours in category 3 may be earned in any two-year reporting period.(2) Credits may be obtained for formal and informal optometric instruction.(a) Three credit hours will be granted for each course hour taught.(b) Credit will be granted for only the firs…

(1) A maximum of 10 credit hours in category 4 may be earned in any two-year reporting period.(2) Five credits may be obtained for each paper, exhibit, publication, or for each chapter of a book that is authored and published.(a) A paper must be published in a recognized optometr…

(1) A maximum of 10 credit hours may be earned through self-study without an instructor physically present.(2) A licensed optometrist shall receive two credit hours for each self-study completed. Each self-study must include:(a) A copy of the article, and its publication source a…

(1) Optometrists must complete a minimum of two hours in health equity continuing education training every four years by complying with WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830.(2) This training must be completed by the end of the second full continuing education reporting period after …

A maximum of 10 credit hours may be granted in any two-year reporting period for practice management courses or programs.[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.54.070(2), 18.130.050, 18.130.175, and 18.130.186. WSR 23-22-068, § 246-851-230, filed 10/25/23, effective 11/25/23. Statutory Aut…

(1) This section addresses the increasing demand for health care practitioners to provide effective care for patients of diverse cultural and social origins. All optometrists are encouraged to increase their knowledge and practice skills to provide effective care to all patients …

A licensed optometrist or a retired active licensed optometrist shall complete a board-approved, one-time training in suicide prevention that is at least three hours in length. Training must include screening and referral.(1) This training must be completed by the end of the firs…

(1) Licensed optometrists must have direct access on the premises to the following equipment and accessories, all of which must be in working condition:(a) Adjustable examining chair;(b) Phoropter/refractor;(c) Retinoscope;(d) Ophthalmoscope;(e) Pupillary distance measuring devic…

(1) Doctors of optometry operating mobile units are required to maintain the minimum equipment requirements of WAC 246-851-250 in such units.(2) Before examining a patient or filling a prescription for a patient, the doctor of optometry must provide to the patient his complete na…

Where contact lens prices are advertised, such advertisement shall clearly state: (a) The type of contact lens or lenses offered at the price(s) advertised and any exclusions or limitations therein; (b) whether examinations, dispensing, related supplies and/or other service charg…

Licensed optometrists shall maintain records of eye examinations and prescriptions for a minimum of five years from the date of examination or prescription.[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.54.070. WSR 91-06-025 (Order 119B), recodified as § 246-851-290, filed 2/26/91, effective 3/29/…

Where a doctor of optometry rents or buys space from and practices optometry on the premises of a commercial or mercantile concern:(1) The practice must be owned by the doctor of optometry solely or in conjunction with other licensed doctors of optometry, and in every phase be un…

Each person licensed under chapter 18.53 RCW must be clearly identified to the public as a doctor of optometry at all practice locations. The identification must include the name of the licensee and the term "doctor of optometry" or "independent doctor of optometry" or other simi…

Every licensed doctor of optometry whose name or office address or place of practice appears or is mentioned in any advertisement of any kind or character shall be presumed to have caused, allowed, permitted, approved, and sanctioned such advertising and shall be presumed to be p…

An optometrist shall not use misleading or unrelated degrees or titles in connection with the professional practice of optometry. The use of an optometric designation such as "optometrist" or "doctor of optometry" or other similar phrase shall not be used in connection with a bus…

No doctor of optometry shall make any contracts or agreements, whether express or implied, nor engage in any arrangement with a retail dispensing optician whereby the optician or his agent shall:(1) Pay any professional expenses for the doctor of optometry;(2) Pay any or all of t…

The salary, bonus or other remuneration of a doctor of optometry who is employed for professional optometric services, shall not be dependent upon the percentage or number of patients who obtain visual examinations or who have prescriptions filled. The employed optometrist, actin…

Pursuant to RCW 18.53.140, when the initial right to practice under the name of any lawfully licensed optometrist is transferred to another lawfully licensed optometrist or association of lawfully licensed optometrists, the right to practice under such first optometrist's name ma…

(1) Licensed optometrists using pharmaceutical agents in the practice of optometry shall have a minimum of 60 hours of didactic and clinical instruction in general and ocular pharmacology as applied to optometry, and for therapeutic purposes an additional minimum 75 hours of dida…

Pursuant to RCW 18.53.010(3) the optometry board adopts the following drug formulary of topically applied drugs administered for diagnosis, treatment, or mitigation purposes.(1) Drugs for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.(a) Mydriatics.(b) Cycloplegics.(c) Miotics.(d) Anestheti…

Any optometrist who prescribes outside their scope of practice or violates any state or federal law or regulations applicable to prescriptions, may be found to have committed an act of unprofessional conduct and may be disciplined in accordance with the provisions of chapter 18.1…

The board recognizes the need to establish a means of proactively providing early recognition and treatment options for optometrists whose competency may be impaired due to substance use disorder. The board intends that such optometrists be treated, and their treatment monitored …

The definitions in this section apply in WAC 246-851-440 through 246-851-470 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Aftercare" means that period of time after intensive treatment that provides the optometrist and the optometrist's family with group or individual couns…

The board shall approve the monitoring program which shall participate in the board's substance use disorder monitoring program. A monitoring program approved by the board may be contracted with an entity outside the department but within the state, out-of-state, or a separate st…

(1) In lieu of disciplinary action, the optometrist may accept board referral into the approved monitoring program or voluntary substance use disorder monitoring program.(a) The optometrist shall undergo a complete physical and psychosocial evaluation before entering the approved…

To qualify for licensure in this state a candidate must:(1) Successfully complete Parts I, II, and III of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) examinations; the Part III having been administered and successfully completed after January 1, 1993.(2) Applicants who co…

Fingerprint-based national background checks may cause a delay in licensing. Individuals who satisfy all other licensing requirements and qualifications may receive a temporary practice permit while the national background check is completed.(1) A temporary practice permit may be…

A license to practice optometry may be issued without examination to an individual licensed in another state that has licensing standards substantially equivalent to those in Washington.(1) The license may be issued upon receipt of:(a) Documentation from the state in which the ap…