(a) Every person who desires to practice optometry in this state shall submit an application to the board. Each applicant must show sufficient information for the board to determine that the applicant meets all of the following requirements:

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 63-8-115

  • Board: means the board of optometry created by this chapter or similar boards created by the optometry law of other states. See Tennessee Code 63-8-102
  • Optometrist: means a person who is engaged in the practice of optometry as defined. See Tennessee Code 63-8-102
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State: means any of the fifty (50) states of the union, the District of Columbia and territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 63-8-102
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) Is over twenty-one (21) years of age;
(2) Is of good moral character;
(3) Is a graduate of a school or college of optometry accredited by a regional or professional accreditation organization that is recognized or approved by the board and is in good standing, as determined by the board; and
(4) Has passed examinations and met the requirements established by the board for the scope of practice desired.
(b)

(1) An applicant who is licensed to practice optometry in a state other than Tennessee, in addition to the foregoing requirements, must show that the applicant is an optometrist in good standing in such state. If the applicant has been disciplined, the applicant must fully set forth the circumstances surrounding the discipline, so that the board may determine therefrom the applicant’s character and fitness.
(2)

(A) When the board receives a completed application for initial licensure or a completed application for licensure from an applicant who is licensed in another state or territory of the United States or in the District of Columbia, then the board shall, within sixty (60) days from the date the board receives the completed application:

(i) Render a decision on the application; or
(ii) Inform the applicant of the need to appear before the board.
(B) As used in this subdivision (b)(2), “completed application” means an application that satisfies all statutory and board rule requirements.
(c) All applications to take examinations shall be accompanied by nonrefundable fees to defray the cost of preparing and conducting the examination and the application process as determined by the board.
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