2023 -- S 0875
========
LC002728
========
S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- OPTICIANS
Introduced By: Senators F. Lombardi, Raptakis, LaMountain, Burke, and Picard
Date Introduced: March 30, 2023
Referred To: Senate 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; and 10
(3) Has successfully passed the national opticianry competency examination or any other 11
written examination approved by the department with consultation from the advisory committee or 12
has successfully completed a department approved apprenticeship program of not less than four 13
thousand one hundred (4,100) hours in not less than two (2) years pursuant to meeting approval of 14
applicable requirements of this section; 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
LC002728 - 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
========
LC002728
========
LC002728 - Page 3 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- OPTICIANS
***
This act would create a secondary path to acquire an optician’s license through an 1
apprenticeship program requiring four thousand one hundred (4,100) hours in not less than two (2) 2
years. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
========
LC002728
========