172 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 120, § 007

Current through June 17, 2024

Section 172-120-007 - CERTIFICATION TO USE PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS

In order to use pharmaceutical agents for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, a licensee must be certified by the Department. The criteria for issuance of certification to use pharmaceutical agents for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes and the documentation required by the Department and the Board are set forth below.

007.01 CERTIFICATION TO USE PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS FOR DIAGNOSTIC PURPOSES. Applicants for certification to use pharmaceutical agents for diagnostic purposes must submit a completed application provided by the Department, have a current Nebraska license to practice optometry, and meet the following:

(A) Satisfactorily complete an approved course in pharmacology provided by an accredited school or college of optometry;

(i) An approved course in pharmacology for a certification to use pharmaceutical agents for diagnostic purposes must meet the following criteria:

(1) Include a study of ocular anesthetics, mydriatics, cycloplegics, ocular toxicity of pharmaceutical agents, ocular allergies of ocular agents, and pharmacologic effects of ocular drug substances;

(2) Include the consideration of the mechanism of action of anesthetics, cycloplegics, and mydriatics in human beings and the uses of the substances in the diagnosis of occurring ocular disorders; and

(3) Correlate the utilization of pharmaceutical agents and optical instrumentation and procedures; and

(B) Meet one of the following:

(i) Pass an approved examination which covers ocular pharmacology for the use of pharmaceutical agents for diagnostic purposes pursuant to 172 NAC 120 administered by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) with a passing score;

(ii) Pass an examination which covers ocular pharmacology pursuant to 172 NAC-120 administered by an accredited school or college of optometry with a passing score; or

(iii) Be credentialed in another U.S. jurisdiction at the highest level required for optometrist licensure in the U.S. jurisdiction where the applicant is currently licensed and such level is determined by the Board to be at least equivalent to the current scope of practice in Nebraska; and

(C) Submit to the Department:

(i) An official transcript sent to the Department directly from an accredited school or college of optometry showing successful completion of the course of study for use of pharmaceutical agents for diagnostic purposes completed by the applicant which meets the requirements of this chapter;

(ii) A detailed score report showing the passing the approved examination; or

(iii) Certification of having a credentialed in another U.S. jurisdiction at the highest level required to practice optometry in the U.S. jurisdiction where the applicant is currently credentialed; and

(iv) The required certification fee.

007.02 CERTIFICATION TO USE PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS FOR THERAPEUTIC PURPOSES. Applicants for certification to use pharmaceutical agents for therapeutic purposes must submit a completed application provided by the Department, have a current Nebraska license to practice optometry, and meet the following:

(A) Have been certified by the Department upon the recommendation of the Board to use pharmaceutical agents for diagnostic purposes and meet the following criteria:

(i) Satisfactorily complete the following educational requirements:

(1) Classroom didactic education concerning the use of pharmaceutical agents for therapeutic purposes provided by an accredited school or college of optometry; and

(2) Clinical training as it applies to optometry with particular emphasis on the examination, diagnosis and treatment of the eye, ocular adnexa, and visual system provided by an accredited school or college of optometry that includes, but is not limited to, case histories, diagnosis, treatment and management regimens, special instrumentation and grand rounds; and

(ii) Meet one of the following:

(1) Pass an approved examination which covers the treatment and management of ocular disease administered by the NBEO with a passing score; or

(2) Pass Part II of the examination administered by the NBEO after 1992 with a passing score; or

(3) Pass an examination that is approved by the Board as equivalent to the examination given by the NBEO; or

(4) Be credentialed in another U.S. jurisdiction at the highest level required for optometrist licensure in the U.S. jurisdiction where the applicant is currently licensed and such level is determined by the Board to be at least equivalent to the current scope of practice in Nebraska; and

(iii) Submit to the Department:

(1) An official transcript sent directly to the Department from an accredited school or college of optometry of successful completion of the didactic education and clinical training completed by the applicant; and

(2) A detailed score report showing successful passage of the approved examination; or

(3) Certification of having a credential at the highest level required to practice optometry in the U.S. jurisdiction where the applicant is currently credentialed sent to the Department from that U.S. jurisdiction; and

(4) The required fee.

172 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 120, § 007

Amended effective 3/21/2022