Rule 420-2-.01 - Registration (Renewal) and Reinstatement(1) All persons practicing as a dispensing optician shall register with the Division Director of the Professional Licensing Boards Division and shall pay a biennial registration fee on or before the March 31st renewal date each odd numbered year. Licenses may be renewed between April 1st and April 30th of each odd numbered year with payment of a late renewal penalty fee in addition to the renewal fee. Failure to renew a license by April 30th of each odd numbered year shall have the same effect as revocation of such license, making the license subject to reinstatement as set forth below. Individual licenses lapsed by operation of law may be considered for reinstatement by submission of an application approved by the Board, any supporting documents or other requirements as defined in 420-2-.01(3) below and paying the established reinstatement application fee.(2) Any service member as defined in O.C.G.A. § 43-1-31 whose license to practice opticianry expired while serving on active duty outside the state shall be permitted to practice opticianry in accordance with the expired license and shall not be charged with a violation relating to such practice on an expired license for a period of six (6) months from the date of her or her discharge from active duty or reassignment to a location within the state. Any such service member shall be entitled to renew such expired license without penalty within six (6) months after the date of her or her discharge from active duty or reassignment to a location with the state. The service member must present to the board a copy of the official military orders, or a written verification signed by the service member's commanding officer to waive any charges.(3) Reinstatement of an expired or lapsed license is at the discretion of the board. All applications may be subject to review by a designated Board member. (a) An applicant for reinstatement of an expired or lapsed license must submit a completed reinstatement application provided by the Board, pay the required reinstatement application fee, and shall comply with one of the following:1. An application for reinstatement of an expired or lapsed license submitted within two (2) years of the effective date of the expiration or lapse of that license must submit evidence of completion of fifteen (15) course hours of continuing education obtained within the two (2) years prior to the date of the reinstatement application. Of the fifteen (15) hours, a minimum of two (2) hours shall be in the area of contact lenses and must be obtained from a Board recognized approved source pursuant to O.C.G.A. 43-29-11(b). Of the fifteen (15) hours, no more than five (5) hours may be obtained via the internet. Effective 04-01-2017, of the fifteen (15) continuing education hours for reinstatement, no hours may be obtained or will be accepted for reinstatement via the internet or home study except for those provided by the Opticians Association of America, the National Academy of Opticianry or the Opticians Association of Georgia. No more than eight (8) hours of continuing education may be obtained in one twenty-four-hour day.2. An application for reinstatement of an expired or lapsed license that's been lapsed or expired for more than two (2) years, but less than four (4) years, of the effective date of the expiration or lapse must submit evidence of completion of thirty (30) course hours of continuing education obtained within the two (2) years prior to the date of the reinstatement application. Of the thirty (30) hours, a minimum of four (4) hours shall be in the area of contact lenses and must be obtained from a Board recognized approved source pursuant to O.C.G.A. 43-29-11(b). Of the thirty (30) hours, no more than five (5) hours may be obtained via the internet. Effective 04-01-2017, of the thirty (30) continuing education hours for reinstatement, no hours may be obtained or will be accepted for reinstatement via the internet or home study except for those provided by the Opticians Association of America, the National Academy of Opticianry or the Opticians Association of Georgia. No more than eight (8) hours of continuing education may be obtained in one twenty-four-hour day.3. An application for reinstatement of an expired or lapsed license that's been lapsed or expired for more than four (4) years of the effective date of the expiration or lapse must also submit evidence of completion of thirty (30) course hours of continuing education obtained within the two (2) years prior to the date of the reinstatement application. Of the thirty (30) hours, a minimum of four (4) hours shall be in the area of contact lenses and must be obtained from a Board recognized approved source pursuant to O.C.G.A. 43-29-11(b). Of the thirty (30) hours, no more than five (5) hours may be obtained via the internet. Effective 04-01-2017, of the thirty (30) continuing education hours for reinstatement, no hours may be obtained or will be accepted for reinstatement via the internet or home study except for those provided by the Opticians Association of America, the National Academy of Opticianry or the Opticians Association of Georgia. No more than eight (8) hours of continuing education may be obtained in one twenty-four-hour day. In addition, the following must be submitted:(i) Verification of current ABO/NCLE Certification.(ii) Applicants for reinstatement under this rule who were licensed in Georgia before January 1, 1987, and who have continued to practice in the field of opticianry in another state or jurisdiction, and who currently and consistently have held a valid, unencumbered dispensing opticians license in that state shall not be required to provide current ABO/NCLE certification.(b) If reinstatement is granted, any continued education hours credited for the reinstatement application shall not be used or applied towards the continuing education requirements for the renewal period following the date of reinstatement. Reinstated licenses may be subject to a continuing education hours audit at renewal after reinstatement of licensure.4. The Board shall ratify the reinstatement of all licenses between Board meetings at the next scheduled Board meeting following the reinstatement.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 420-2-.01
O.C.G.A. §§ 43-1-7, 43-1-25, 43-29-3(d), 43-29-6, 43-29-10.
Original Rule entitled "Registration" adopted. F. and eff. June 30, 1965.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Mar. 3, 1981; eff. Mar. 23, 1981.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Aug. 7, 1984; eff. Aug. 27, 1984.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. July 2, 1991; eff. July 22, 1991.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Aug. 18, 2005; eff. Sept. 7, 2005.Repealed: New Rule of the same title adopted. F. Apr. 4, 2011; eff. Apr. 24, 2011.Amended: F. Nov. 13, 2013; eff. Dec. 3, 2013.Amended: New title "Registration and Reinstatement." F. Jan. 26, 2015; eff. Feb. 15, 2015.Amended: F. May 31, 2016; eff. June 20, 2016.Amended: F. Aug. 24, 2017; eff. Sept. 13, 2017.Amended: F. Aug. 9, 2019; eff. Aug. 29, 2019.Amended: New title, "Registration (Renewal) and Reinstatement." F. Aug. 21, 2023; eff. Sept. 10, 2023.