CALIFORNIA OPTOMETRY LAWS
AND REGULATIONS EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
When is a central file purged of a complaint? - Answer-if Board has failed to act on the
complaint/report in 5 yrs or if found complaint/report to be w/o merit
Every insurance and every licensed person must report withing days of the
Board every settlement or arbitration award of over $3000 of a claim or action for
damages of death or personal injury. - Answer-30
What is insurance fraud? - Answer-if a person provides false information to an
insurance company while making a claim or submitting an insurance application
When can a license be reinstated after being revoked or suspended for mental illness or
physical illness? - Answer-When competent evidence of the absence or control of the
condition is presented. Terms and conditions may be imposed such as addtl
professional training and exam, reqmt for continual treatment, and/or restrict/limit type,
scope, or extent of practice.
Records of proceedings resulting in no action by the board are kept confidential and
destroyed after ____ years. - Answer-5
A duly licensed can serve as a CLIA director of a laboratory and may be
able to perform only clinical laboratory tests as authorized. (They must register as lab
director before performing CLIA-waved tests). - Answer-OD
T/F. A licensed physician and surgeon practicing in the specialty of ophthalmology may
be employed by an optometrist. - Answer-True
Who has the authority to prescribe ophthalmic or contact lenses, or plano contact
lenses? - Answer-a physician and surgeon or optometrist
What is a prescription lens? - Answer-any device that alters or changes the visual
powers of the human eye or any plano contact lenses
What must be included on a spectacle lens Rx? - Answer-pt's name
dioptric power of lens
issue and exp date
name, address, license #, signature of practitioner
,T/F. Prescriber must orally inform pt of exp date. - Answer-treu
When can an expired Rx be filled? - Answer-loss, breakage, or damage
The exp date for a CL shall not be less than year(s) and not more than year(s)
from date of issuance unless reasonable probability of change earlier than that. -
Answer-1, 2
T/F. The prescriber shall provide pt with a copy of the CL Rx upon completion of the eye
exam or CL fitting process. - Answer-true
Under which conditions does the prescriber have discretion in releasing CL Rx? -
Answer-RGP lenses, keratoconus lenses, and other lenses that are not mass produced
How does federal law differ from state law concerning release of CL Rxs? - Answer-
Under federal law there is no discretion- prescriber must release Rx for all lenses
whether requested or not
How should an OD handle an emergency of angle closure? - Answer-OD shall stabilize,
if possible, and immediately refer a pt with an acute angle closure attack to an OMD
T/F. An OD diagnosing and treating eye dz shall be heald to the same standard of care
to which physicians ans surgeons and osteopathic physicians and surgeons are held. -
Answer-true
What shall be done in a situation or condition that is beyond the OD's scope of practice?
- Answer-an OD shall consult with and if necessary, refer to appropriate health care
provider and info shall be documented in the pt record
T/F. A technician may use optical devices for VT unsupervised. - Answer-False- must
be supervised by OD or MD
Who is exempt from licensing in the practice of optometry? - Answer-undergrad and
grad students of optometry if activities/practice are confined to the clinical education and
clinical dept of a school or college of optometry; also persons from other
states/countries for specified (temporary) periods of time if for educational purpose in a
clinical dept
How should goggles, sunglasses, colored glasses, or occupational eye-protective
devices with no refractive value be sold? - Answer-as ready to wear merchandise
Those enrolled in school of opt on or after Sep 1, 1997 must show evidence of
education in detection, and detection of
and abuse. - Answer-child abuse; alcoholism; chemical
substance
, A passing grade on an exam is % in every section or test. May take succeeding
exams for the next ____ years only in failed sections. - Answer-75; 5
When may certificate of registration be issued to OD licensed in another state? -
Answer-When full-time faculty member if associate professor or higher, passes state
law exam and meets DPA/TPA and CE reqmts
What is required for licensure by endorsement? - Answer-OD is in active practice in
good standing for at least 5000 hrs in 5 out of 7 years of licensure and meets all
DPA/TPA/CE reqmts and passes the state jurisprudence exam
When may exemption/extension for CE reqmts be granted? - Answer-reasons of health,
military service, or other good cause (must submit proof of compliance)
Every OD is encouraged to take courses as part of CE. - Answer-
pharmacology
T/F. CPR certification is required as of 2006. - Answer-False- no longer required as of
2006
What is the CE requirement for a TPA certified OD? - Answer-complete 50 hrs of CE
every 2 years- 35 shall be on dx, tx, mgmt of ocular dz in any combination of: glc (10
hrs), ocular infections, inflammation and topical steroids, systemic meds, pain meds
How is "temporary practice" defined? - Answer-practice away from the principal practice
for not more than 5 days in a 30-day period or not more than 36 days in a calendar year
What must an OD do to engage in practice at a health facility or residential care facility?
- Answer-the OD must maintain a primary business office separate from that facility that
is open to the public
T/F. If an OD has more than one office evidence of registration must be posted in each
office. - Answer-true
What must be included on a receipt when a patient makes a payment? - Answer-his/her
place of practice, number of certificate, description of goods/services furnished, and amt
charged
What 5 conditions are required for the board to issue a permit to practice under a
different name? - Answer-1. Place is owned or leased and entirely controlled by
applicant- except in a community clinic
2. Name of practice not deceptive and contains words "optometry" or "optometric"
AND REGULATIONS EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
When is a central file purged of a complaint? - Answer-if Board has failed to act on the
complaint/report in 5 yrs or if found complaint/report to be w/o merit
Every insurance and every licensed person must report withing days of the
Board every settlement or arbitration award of over $3000 of a claim or action for
damages of death or personal injury. - Answer-30
What is insurance fraud? - Answer-if a person provides false information to an
insurance company while making a claim or submitting an insurance application
When can a license be reinstated after being revoked or suspended for mental illness or
physical illness? - Answer-When competent evidence of the absence or control of the
condition is presented. Terms and conditions may be imposed such as addtl
professional training and exam, reqmt for continual treatment, and/or restrict/limit type,
scope, or extent of practice.
Records of proceedings resulting in no action by the board are kept confidential and
destroyed after ____ years. - Answer-5
A duly licensed can serve as a CLIA director of a laboratory and may be
able to perform only clinical laboratory tests as authorized. (They must register as lab
director before performing CLIA-waved tests). - Answer-OD
T/F. A licensed physician and surgeon practicing in the specialty of ophthalmology may
be employed by an optometrist. - Answer-True
Who has the authority to prescribe ophthalmic or contact lenses, or plano contact
lenses? - Answer-a physician and surgeon or optometrist
What is a prescription lens? - Answer-any device that alters or changes the visual
powers of the human eye or any plano contact lenses
What must be included on a spectacle lens Rx? - Answer-pt's name
dioptric power of lens
issue and exp date
name, address, license #, signature of practitioner
,T/F. Prescriber must orally inform pt of exp date. - Answer-treu
When can an expired Rx be filled? - Answer-loss, breakage, or damage
The exp date for a CL shall not be less than year(s) and not more than year(s)
from date of issuance unless reasonable probability of change earlier than that. -
Answer-1, 2
T/F. The prescriber shall provide pt with a copy of the CL Rx upon completion of the eye
exam or CL fitting process. - Answer-true
Under which conditions does the prescriber have discretion in releasing CL Rx? -
Answer-RGP lenses, keratoconus lenses, and other lenses that are not mass produced
How does federal law differ from state law concerning release of CL Rxs? - Answer-
Under federal law there is no discretion- prescriber must release Rx for all lenses
whether requested or not
How should an OD handle an emergency of angle closure? - Answer-OD shall stabilize,
if possible, and immediately refer a pt with an acute angle closure attack to an OMD
T/F. An OD diagnosing and treating eye dz shall be heald to the same standard of care
to which physicians ans surgeons and osteopathic physicians and surgeons are held. -
Answer-true
What shall be done in a situation or condition that is beyond the OD's scope of practice?
- Answer-an OD shall consult with and if necessary, refer to appropriate health care
provider and info shall be documented in the pt record
T/F. A technician may use optical devices for VT unsupervised. - Answer-False- must
be supervised by OD or MD
Who is exempt from licensing in the practice of optometry? - Answer-undergrad and
grad students of optometry if activities/practice are confined to the clinical education and
clinical dept of a school or college of optometry; also persons from other
states/countries for specified (temporary) periods of time if for educational purpose in a
clinical dept
How should goggles, sunglasses, colored glasses, or occupational eye-protective
devices with no refractive value be sold? - Answer-as ready to wear merchandise
Those enrolled in school of opt on or after Sep 1, 1997 must show evidence of
education in detection, and detection of
and abuse. - Answer-child abuse; alcoholism; chemical
substance
, A passing grade on an exam is % in every section or test. May take succeeding
exams for the next ____ years only in failed sections. - Answer-75; 5
When may certificate of registration be issued to OD licensed in another state? -
Answer-When full-time faculty member if associate professor or higher, passes state
law exam and meets DPA/TPA and CE reqmts
What is required for licensure by endorsement? - Answer-OD is in active practice in
good standing for at least 5000 hrs in 5 out of 7 years of licensure and meets all
DPA/TPA/CE reqmts and passes the state jurisprudence exam
When may exemption/extension for CE reqmts be granted? - Answer-reasons of health,
military service, or other good cause (must submit proof of compliance)
Every OD is encouraged to take courses as part of CE. - Answer-
pharmacology
T/F. CPR certification is required as of 2006. - Answer-False- no longer required as of
2006
What is the CE requirement for a TPA certified OD? - Answer-complete 50 hrs of CE
every 2 years- 35 shall be on dx, tx, mgmt of ocular dz in any combination of: glc (10
hrs), ocular infections, inflammation and topical steroids, systemic meds, pain meds
How is "temporary practice" defined? - Answer-practice away from the principal practice
for not more than 5 days in a 30-day period or not more than 36 days in a calendar year
What must an OD do to engage in practice at a health facility or residential care facility?
- Answer-the OD must maintain a primary business office separate from that facility that
is open to the public
T/F. If an OD has more than one office evidence of registration must be posted in each
office. - Answer-true
What must be included on a receipt when a patient makes a payment? - Answer-his/her
place of practice, number of certificate, description of goods/services furnished, and amt
charged
What 5 conditions are required for the board to issue a permit to practice under a
different name? - Answer-1. Place is owned or leased and entirely controlled by
applicant- except in a community clinic
2. Name of practice not deceptive and contains words "optometry" or "optometric"
