Section 08.72.170 - Licensure by credentials The board shall issue a license by credentials to an applicant who
(1) is a graduate of a school or college of optometry recognized by the board;(2) has passed a written examination approved by the board that is designed to test the applicant's knowledge of the laws of Alaska governing the practice of optometry and the regulations adopted under those laws;(3) holds a current license to practice optometry in another state or territory of the United States or in a province of Canada that has licensure requirements that the board determines are equivalent to those established under this chapter;(4) at some time in the past, received a license to practice optometry from another state or territory of the United States or from a province of Canada that required the person to have passed the National Board of Examiners in Optometry examination to qualify for licensure;(5) was engaged in the active licensed clinical practice of optometry in a state or territory of the United States or in a province of Canada for at least 3,120 hours during the 36 months preceding the date of application under this section;(6) has not committed an act in any jurisdiction that would have constituted a violation of this chapter or regulations adopted under this chapter at the time the act was committed;(7) has not been disciplined by an optometry licensing entity in another jurisdiction and is not the subject of a pending disciplinary proceeding conducted by an optometry licensing entity in another jurisdiction; however, the board may consider the disciplinary action and, in the board's discretion, determine whether the person is qualified for licensure; and(8) has received education in pain management and opioid use and addiction adequate for the practice of optometry, unless the applicant has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the board that the applicant does not currently hold a valid federal Drug Enforcement Administration registration number; an applicant may include past professional experience or professional education as proof of professional competence.Amended by SLA 2017SP2, ch. 2,sec. 25, eff. 7/1/2018.