(a) The Board shall issue certification for the use of topical ocular diagnostic pharmaceutical agents to optometrists, licensed after the effective date of this Section, who have completed appropriate forms issued by the Board and submitted proof of successful completion of the educational requirements for certification established by the Board, which requirements shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) having satisfactorily completed a course in pharmacology as applied to optometry with particular emphasis on the topical application of diagnostic pharmaceutical agents to the eye for the purpose of examination of the human eye and the analysis of ocular functions, which course is offered by an institution accredited by a regional or professional accreditation organization recognized or approved by the national commission on accreditation or the United States Commissioner of Education; or

(2) having postgraduate education, with a minimum of seventy (70) hours of instruction in general and ocular pharmacology as applied to optometry, taught by an accredited institution and approved by the Board.

(b) The Board shall issue certification for the prescribing and use of therapeutic pharmaceutical agents to optometrists licensed after the effective date of this Section, who have completed appropriate forms issued by the Board and submitted proof of successful completion of educational requirements for certification established by the board, which requirements shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) having satisfactorily completed a course consisting of a minimum of ninety (90) total hours of didactic education and supervised clinical training approved by the Board with particular emphasis on the examination, diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the eye and adnexa. Such course

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CH. 12 MEDICAL PRACTICES

shall be provided by an institution accredited by a regional or professional accreditation organization recognized or approved by the Counsel on Post-Secondary Accreditation of the United States Department of Education, or its successor; and

(2) such other requirements as may be determined by the
Board.

(c) The certifications authorized by this Section shall be displayed in a conspicuous place in the optometrist’s principal office or place of business.
SOURCE: Repealed/reenacted by P.L. 23-009:3 (Apr. 22, 1995). P.L.
23-009 contains the following language relative to persons holding licenses under prior law:

Section 4. No Automatic Certification of Currently Licensed Optometrists. All optometrists wishing to prescribe and use therapeutic pharmaceutical agent will have to be certified by the board after the effective date of this Act. No provision of this Act shall be construed as the automatic certification of currently licensed optometrists or those currently certified to use topical ocular diagnostic pharmaceutical agents to include certification for the prescribing and use of therapeutic pharmaceutical agents

Section 5. Within ninety (90) days after the effective date of this Act, the Guam Board of Examiners for Optometry shall develop rules and regulations requiring the satisfactory completion of the educational requirements, clinical training, and examinations required under the provisions of this Act, regarding those optometrists seeking to become certified to prescribe and use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents. The Board of Pharmacy shall be consulted as needed to develop policies concerning the implementation of this law.