Oregon Board of Optometry

1900 Hines Street SE, Suite 290 Salem OR 97302 Phone: (503)399-0662 Fax: (503)399-0705 email: board@oregonobo.org

The Mission of the Oregon Board of Optometry is to Protect the People of the State of Oregon from the Dangers of Unqualified and Improper Practice of Optometry.

The Oregon Board of Optometry is a state agency responsible for the licensure of doctors of optometry (optometrists/optometric physicians) and enforcement of the statutes and administrative rules governing the practice of optometry in Oregon. Listed below is information concerning the Board and its activities that may be of interest to you.

NOTICE

Regular Meeting of the Board Scheduled ~ The next regular meeting of the Board is scheduled for August 9, 2013 in the first floor conference room of their new office location at 1500 Liberty Street SE, Salem Oregon 97302. The change of address will be affective on June 20, 2013. The Notice and Agenda for this meeting will be available here prior to the meeting, and will be sent to individuals who have asked to be placed on the Board's list of interested parties.

New Optometry Rules in Effect ~ The Oregon Board of Optometry adopted revised administrative rules that govern the practice of optometry in the state at a meeting on December 21, 2012. Those rules are now in effect. You are responsible for understanding and following these rules, which can be accessed by clicking this link .

Dispensing and Use of Contact Lenses Without a Valid Prescription ~ Oregon Revised Statute 683.180 - Prohibited acts and practices - states: "A person may not: (9) Dispense or sell an ophthalmic contact lens without having obtained a valid, unexpired prescription from the person to whom the contact lens is dispensed or sold. As used in this subsection, "ophthalmic contact lens" means a contact lens with or without refractive power, including a plano lens or a cosmetic lens." This video provides additional information about the dispensing and use of contacts without a valid prescription.

Protected Health Information Release Form for Patients ~ Federal and state laws govern the confidentiality of protected health information. As licensed doctors of optometry, you may need to share patient information with other health professionals. This link refers to Oregon Revised Statutes and provides a sample release form you may use with your patients.

BOARD MEMBERS SOUGHT ~ Members of the Oregon Board of Optometry are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The term of office of each member is three years. A member is eligible for reappointment. Candidates for member positions are currently being sought. If you have an interest in serving on the Oregon Board of Optometry please complete the Executive Appointment Interest Form or contact the Board's office. In selecting the members of the Board, the Governor shall strive to balance representation on the Board according to geographic areas of this state and by ethnic group.

Board of Optometry Information:
About the Board	Revised Statutes and Administrative Rules
Consumer Complaints	Proposed Administrative Rule Changes
Alphabetical Listing of Currently Licensed Optometric Physicians    May be used for license verification Disciplinary Actions and Medical Malpractice Reports	Oregon Optometry Negligence/Malpractice Claim Report Form    This form is to be used only by claim "reporters" as defined by ORS 742.400.
Information Requests	Questions About Optometry
Board Meetings	News and Newsletters From the Board
Minutes of Public Meetings	Board Financial Information
Using and Prescribing Contact Lenses    Information for consumers and eye health professionals.

Information for Licensees and Applicants for Licensure:
Continuing Education Reviewed by the Board    (Course Review requirements)	Examination and Licensure Requirements    The Law and Administrative Rules Exam is available online through the NBEO.
Continuing Education Requirements	Applications and Forms in PDF Format
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse	Reinstating or Reactivating a License

BLS Healthcare Provider CPR Certification

Continuous and current BLS Healthcare Provider level CPR certification is a condition of licensure for all Active status optometric physicians. Any lapse in CPR certification will result in a late CPR renewal fee. This is an important requirement in protecting the health and safety of your patients. Approved CPR courses teach heathcare professionals to recognize life-threatening emergencies, provide CPR to victims of all ages, teach how to relieve choking in a safe, timely and effective manner, and instruct on proper use of AED's. As of January 2013, the Board no longer requires a hands-on component for CPR certification for renewing licenses (new applicants must still take a hands-on CPR course for initial licensure). So, if you are renewing your optmetry license, you may take a BLS Healthcare Provider-level CPR recertification course totally online, if that option is allowed by your class provider. Note: Although not required by the Board, know that some course providers do require a hands-on component to receive recertification, such as the American Heart Association BLS Healthcare Provider Online CPR Renewal Course - Be aware before you sign up whether you are paying for and able to complete the hands-on component if it is required by the provider to complete the course and receive your renewal card.

Optometry Links:

ARBO (Association of Boards of Optometry) Home Page

COPE (Council on Optometric Practitioner Education) Home Page

NBEO (National Board of Examiners in Optometry) Home Page

The Law and Administrative Rules Exam is available online through the NBEO.

NPDB-HIPDB (National Practitioner Data Bank and Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank)

Physicians can perform a "self query" at this site.

OOPA (Oregon Optometric Physicians Association

If you have an interest in membership in the Oregon Optometric Physicians Association, which represents the professional interests of optometry in Oregon, you can obtain information by calling their office at (800)922-2045 or by visiting their website.

Links to On-Line Optometric Ethics and Oregon Optometry Law and Administrative Rules Courses that have been approved by the Board

PUCO (Pacific University College of Optometry - Online Continuing Education)

SCCO (Southern California College of Optometry - Online Continuing Education)- "Ethics in the Clinical Practice of Optometry".

Audio-Digest.org - Using their search engine, enter the words: "Ethics in Medicine", and filter the search by choosing "Ophthalmology". The approved courses on the resulting list are: “Ethical Concerns, Ophthalmology” (Vol. 49, Is.04). and "Ethical Challenges" (Vol. 50, Is.04). Please Note: Course title "Medicolegal Issues in Ophthalmology" is NOT approved for this requirement.

Links to Related Organizations:

AOA (American Optometric Association) Home Page

AOS (American Optometric Society) Home Page

OMB (Oregon Medical Board)

DEA (United States Drug Enforcement Administration/Practitioner Registration)

U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION - Mandatory Reporting Form

Report violations of dispensing products which require a prescription - such as contact lenses - at this site.)

Oregon DMV's Medically At-Risk Driver Program

Oregon Requirements For Tinting of Windshields

ORS 815.221 and 815.222 explaining the statutory requirements for prescribing the tinting of automotive windshields.

Liability Statement

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This page was last revised: MAY 15, 2013

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