64B12-16.003: Apprenticeship Requirements and Training Program
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Board proposes amending the rule to add language to allow continuing education hours for apprentices.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Apprentice/Sponsor Orientation Course hours.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 484.005 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 484.002, 484.007(1)(d)4. FS.
IF REQUESTED IN WRITING AND NOT DEEMED UNNECESSARY BY THE AGENCY HEAD, A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE NOTICED IN THE NEXT AVAILABLE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE WEEKLY.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Sue Foster, Executive Director, Board of Opticianry, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin # C08, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3253
THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS:
64B12-16.003 Apprenticeship Requirements and Training Program.
(1) All apprenticeship training must be conducted by the sponsor(s) with whom the apprentice is currently registered with the Agency. Credits shall be granted to apprentices if the training is properly documented according to this rule. An apprentice shall not receive credit for any training received from a person other than the properly registered sponsor(s). However, an apprentice can receive credit for attending continuing education courses by a board-approved provider pursuant to this rule.
(2) No change.
(3) A sponsor may provide training for no more than two apprentices at a time.
(4) An apprenticeship shall consist of 6,240 hours of training, completed within five years after the apprentice's first registration with the Department. However, time spent in training at a board-approved school of opticianry may be substituted for required apprenticeship time. Each credit hour earned at such school shall count as 86.67 apprenticeship hours.
(a) An apprentice is required to obtain two of the required hours by completing an Apprentice/Sponsor Orientation Course and submitting the original certificate of attendance to the board office within one year of registration with the Department.
(b) Each sponsor may attend an Apprentice/Sponsor Orientation course. This course will count toward the laws and rules continuing education requirement pursuant to Rule 64B12-15.003, F.A.C.
(c) An apprentice can attend continuing education classes form an approved provider which will count towards the apprenticeship hours. Each credit hour of continuing education shall count as one hour of apprenticeship training. An apprentice can only claim up to a maximum of 100 hours of continuing education credit over the entire length of the apprenticeship. Hours of continuing education credit will only be awarded upon presentation of proof of attendance to the Board.
(5) No hours of credit will be awarded to an apprentice unless those hours were worked under the supervision of the sponsor(s) or within an acceptable alternative as outlined in this rule. The sponsor(s) must be on the premises at all times that opticianry services are performed by an apprentice. The sponsor(s) must personally inspect and approve any work so produced. However, an apprentice may perform such tasks without the sponsor's presence which may lawfully be performed by unsupervised non-licensed personnel, so long as no hours of apprenticeship credit are claimed or earned.
(6) Total training received by an apprentice during apprenticeship must consist of training in the following subject areas:
(a)
(b) Working with lens types, optical and geometric centers, axis, prisms, powers, different types of glass, colors (tints), curves, transposing and knowing the purpose and use of lenses and contact lenses,
(c) Working with frames and mountings and optical appurtenances, adjustments, sizes, measurements and types of temples,
(d) Fitting eyeglasses on individual customers,
(e) Attaining a working knowledge of measurements, pupillary distances, basic anatomy and physiology of the eye and attaining basic knowledge of geometric optics,
(f) Using lensometer or other similar instrument; neutralizing and identifying series of single vision and multi-focal lenses, power of lenses,
(g) Assembling eyeglasses from frames and uncut lenses,
(h) Filling contact lens prescriptions, and fitting, and adapting and dispensing contact lenses if the sponsor is a Board-Certified optician, licensed optometrist, ophthalmologist, or an optician pursuant to subsection 64B12-10.009(1), F.A.C., or the apprentice must complete a Board approved course equivalent to 32 hours as a substitute for working experience with contact lenses. Such course must include the following instruction:
1 hour – contact lens history
2 hours – anatomy and physiology of the eye
1 hour – patient selection
2 hours – contact lens technology
2 hours – basic optics for contact lenses
4 hours – basic fitting methods
1 hour – patient follow-up
1 hour – data collection and record keeping
2 hours – ordering and verification
2 hours – patient instruction
2 hours – problem solving
2 hours – specialty fittings
1 hour – ANSI Standards
1 hour –
8 hours – hands on practice
Although the lecture sessions may be open to any number of students, the hands on sessions shall be limited to 20 students per qualified instructor and three assistant instructors. A qualified instructor is one who has been a Board Certified optician, licensed optometrist or opthalmologist and actively engaged in contact lens fitting for 2 years immediately preceding instructorship or actively engaged as a contact lens instructor in an approved school of opticianry, an accredited school of optometry or an accredited medical school. The assistants must be Board certified or equally qualified to the instructor. Any request for course approval must be submitted to the Board 30 days prior to the next Board meeting and must be reviewed every two years. The apprentice must complete the entire course within 31 days.
(i) Additional work in any of the above categories.
Specific Authority 484.005 Law Implemented 484.002, 484.007(1)(d)4. FS. History–New 10-12-80, Amended 8-31-83, 8-30-84, Formerly 21P-16.03, Amended 3- 5-87, 7-15-87, 1-26-88, 3-30-89, 10-17-90, 5-27-92, 9-30-92, 1-27-93, Formerly 21P-16.003, Amended 9-14-93, 5-2-94, Formerly 61G13-16.003, Amended 2-21-96, 4-23-97, Formerly 59U-16.003, Amended 10-1-97, 2-16-99, 6-25-02,_________.