Section 34-22-82

Practice of optometry across state lines; certificate of qualification; requirements; license generally.

(a) No person shall engage in the practice of optometry across state lines in this state, hold himself or herself out as qualified to practice optometry, or use any title, word, or abbreviation to indicate or induce others to believe that he or she is licensed in this state to practice optometry across state lines unless he or she has been issued a special purpose license to practice optometry across state lines in accordance with the provisions of this article; provided however, that no person who holds a full, unrestricted and current license issued pursuant to Sections 34-22-1 to 34-22-43, inclusive, shall be required to obtain a special purpose license to practice optometry across state lines.

(b) An individual shall submit an application for a certificate of qualification for a special purpose license to practice optometry across state lines on a form provided by the board and shall remit an application fee in an amount established by the board. The Alabama Board of Optometry shall issue a special purpose license to practice optometry across state lines upon presentation by an applicant of a certificate of qualification issued by the Alabama Board of Optometry in accordance with this section. The authority of the board to issue, revoke, or suspend the special purpose license to practice optometry across state lines shall be the same as the general authority granted to the board under Sections 34-22-5 to 34-22-43, inclusive. The Alabama Board of Optometry shall issue a certificate of qualification certifying an applicant for a special purpose license to practice optometry across state lines who has met the following requirements:

(1) The applicant holds a full and unrestricted license to practice optometry in any and all states of the United States or in territories in which the individual is licensed.

(2) The applicant has not had any disciplinary action or other action taken against the applicant by any state or licensing jurisdiction.

(3) In the event of previous disciplinary or other action against the applicant, the board may issue a certificate of qualification if it finds that the previous disciplinary or other action does not indicate that the optometrist is a potential threat to the public.

(c) A special purpose license issued by the board to practice optometry across state lines limits the licensee solely to the practice of optometry across state lines as defined herein. The special purpose license is valid for a period of three years, shall expire on a renewal date established by the board in the third calendar year after its issuance, and may be renewed upon receipt of a renewal fee as established by the board. Failure to renew a license according to the renewal schedule established by the board shall result in the automatic revocation of the special purpose license to practice optometry across state lines. An applicant may reapply following automatic revocation for failure to renew.

(Act 98-495, p. 956, §3.)