Virginia Law

Article 3. Opticians.

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to:

1. Any licensed physician or licensed optometrist;

2. Any individual, partnership, or corporation engaged in supplying ophthalmic prescriptions and supplies exclusively to licensed physicians, licensed optometrists, licensed opticians, or optical scientists;

3. Any person who does not hold himself out to the public as an "optician," and who works exclusively under the direct supervision and control of a licensed physician or licensed optometrist or licensed optician, and in the same location;

4. The sale of spectacles, eyeglasses, magnifying glasses, goggles, sunglasses, telescopes, or binoculars that are completely preassembled and sold as merchandise; or

5. Any optician who (i) does not regularly practice in Virginia; (ii) holds a current valid license or certificate to practice as an optician in another state, territory, district, or possession of the United States; (iii) volunteers to provide free health care to an underserved area of the Commonwealth under the auspices of a publicly supported all volunteer, nonprofit organization with no paid employees that sponsors the provision of health care to populations of underserved people throughout the world; (iv) files a copy of the license or certificate issued in such other jurisdiction with the Board; (v) notifies the Board, within 15 days prior to the voluntary provision of services of the dates and location of such services; and (vi) acknowledges, in writing, that such licensure exemption shall only be valid, in compliance with the Board's regulations, during the limited period that such free health care is made available through the volunteer, nonprofit organization on the dates and at the location filed with the Board.

1954, c. 237, §§ 54-398.1, 54-398.3; 1974, c. 534; 1988, c. 765, § 54.1-1701; 2002, c. 740; 2012, cc. 803, 835.

No person shall practice or offer to practice as an optician in the Commonwealth unless he holds a license issued under this chapter.

1954, c. 237, § 54-398.3; 1974, c. 534; 1988, c. 765, § 54.1-1704; 2012, cc. 803, 835.

Nothing in this chapter shall authorize an optician, or anyone else not otherwise authorized by law, to make, issue, or alter optical prescriptions, or to practice ocular refraction, orthoptics, or visual training, or to fit contact lenses except on the prescription of an ophthalmologist or optometrist and under his direction, or to advertise or offer to do so in any manner.

1954, c. 237, § 54-398.27; 1964, c. 101; 1988, c. 765, § 54.1-1705; 2012, cc. 803, 835.

Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions 7 and 8 of § 54.1-3204, a licensed optician is authorized to prepare and dispense eyeglasses, spectacles, lenses, or related appurtenances, for the intended wearers or users, on prescriptions from licensed physicians or licensed optometrists; duplicate and reproduce previously prepared eyeglasses, spectacles, lenses, or related appurtenances; and, in accordance with such prescriptions, duplications, or reproductions, measure, adapt, fit, and adjust eyeglasses, spectacles, lenses, or appurtenances to the human face. A licensed optician shall not, however, duplicate a contact lens solely from a previously prepared contact lens.

1990, c. 718, § 54.1-1706; 1993, c. 206; 2009, cc. 353, 761; 2012, cc. 803, 835.