2023 -- H 6398
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LC002960
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- OPTICIANS
Introduced By: Representatives Finkelman, and Baginski
Date Introduced: May 12, 2023
Referred To: House Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 5-35.2-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-35.2 entitled "Opticians" 1
is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
5-35.2-2. Qualification of optician applicants. 3
(a) Every applicant for licensure shall present satisfactory evidence, in the form of 4
affidavits properly sworn to, that he or she: 5
(1) Is of good moral character; and 6
(2) Has graduated from a two-year (2) school of opticianry approved by the New England 7
Association of Schools and Colleges or an equivalent regional accrediting authority or other 8
accrediting authority as may be approved by the department with consultation from the advisory 9
committee or has successfully completed an apprenticeship program registered in accordance with 10
chapter 45 of title 28, consisting of not less than four thousand one hundred (4,100) hours and 11
completed in not less than two (2) years; and 12
(3) Has successfully passed the national opticianry competency examination or any other 13
written examination approved by the department with consultation from the advisory committee; 14
and 15
(4) Has successfully passed a practical examination approved by the department with 16
consultation from the advisory committee. 17
(b) Every applicant for licensure who is or has been licensed in an alternate jurisdiction 18
shall present satisfactory evidence in the form of affidavits properly sworn to that he or she: 19
LC002960 - Page 2 of 3
(1) Is of good moral character; and 1
(2) Has graduated from high school; and 2
(3) Has graduated from a two-year (2) school of opticianry approved by the New England 3
Association of Schools and Colleges or an equivalent regional accrediting authority or other 4
accrediting authority as may be approved by the department with consultation from the advisory 5
committee; or has successfully completed a two-year (2) opticianry apprenticeship program; and 6
(4) Has held a valid license to practice opticianry in another state for at least one year and 7
was in good standing during that time; and 8
(5) Has practiced opticianry in this or any other state for a period of not less than one year; 9
and 10
(6) Has successfully passed the national opticianry competency examination or any other 11
written examination approved by the department with consultation from the advisory committee; 12
and 13
(7) Has successfully passed a practical exam approved by the department with consultation 14
from the advisory committee. 15
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 16
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- OPTICIANS
***
This act would provide as an alternative to graduation from a two (2) year school of 1
opticianry that the education requirement for licensing may be satisfied by completion of an 2
apprentice program of not less than four thousand one hundred (4,100) hours, in not less than two 3
(2) years, in order to become a licensed optician. 4
This act would take effect upon passage. 5
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LC002960
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