3046.1.
(a) The board shall issue a temporary license to practice optometry to any person who applies for and is eligible for licensure pursuant to Section 3046, but who is unable to immediately take the required examinations for licensure under this chapter. In addition to Section 3046, the person shall also satisfy all of the following conditions:(1) The person has never been previously licensed to practice optometry in any state in the United States.
(2) The person pays to the board the applicable fee of one hundred dollars ($100), or a fee in an amount as determined by the board, not to exceed the reasonable cost of administering this section.
(3) The person has received approval from their accredited school of optometry that the person meets the educational requirements to practice optometry.
(4) The person satisfies all other conditions to licensure established by this chapter.
(b) A person holding a temporary license shall be subject to the same rights and restrictions that are afforded to a person holding a valid, unrevoked California optometrist license, except where specifically limited by statute or the board. For the purposes of this chapter, “temporary licensee” means a person holding a temporary license pursuant to this section.
(c) A temporary licensee shall practice under the supervision of a supervising optometrist. For the purposes of this chapter, “supervising optometrist” means a
California licensed optometrist that has been licensed for a minimum of five years.
(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a temporary licensee may perform services as authorized by this chapter if the following requirements are met:
(1) The temporary licensee renders the services under the supervision of a supervising optometrist who is not subject to a disciplinary condition imposed by the board prohibiting that supervision or prohibiting the employment of a temporary licensee.
(2) The temporary licensee is competent to perform the services.
(3) The temporary licensee’s education, training, and experience have prepared the temporary licensee to render the services.
(4) For the purposes of
this chapter, “supervision” means that a supervising optometrist oversees the activities of, and accepts responsibility for, the services rendered by a temporary licensee. Supervision, as defined in this subdivision, shall not be construed to require the physical presence of the optometrist, but does require the supervising optometrist be available by telephone or other electronic communication method at the time the temporary licensee examines the patient.
(e) The supervising optometrist shall have a formal written procedure in place by which patients are informed that a doctor with a temporary license will be performing the examination. Additionally, the patient shall be informed that the supervising optometrist will be supervising the temporary licensee and the supervising optometrist will be identified to the patient. The temporary licensee shall obtain the patient’s informed consent to this process prior to performing services authorized
by this chapter.
(f) The temporary license shall expire upon the date that the temporary licensee completes all of the requirements for licensure or one year from the date of issuance, whichever comes first, unless extended by the board.