Section 338.253. Licensure by endorsement.

(1) An applicant for a Michigan optometry license by endorsement shall submit a completed application on forms  provided  by the  department, together with the

requisite fee. In addition to meeting the requirements of the code and the administrative rules promulgated under the code, an applicant shall have graduated from a professional optometric degree program approved by the board, as provided in R 338.254, and satisfy the requirements of this rule.

(2)   An applicant shall be an optometrist who is engaged in the practice of optometry, holds a doctor of optometry degree, and is currently licensed at the highest level authorized in another state of the  United  States  or province of Canada that has licensure requirements that are equivalent  to those required in this state, as determined by the board. This  subrule, however, shall  not  grant  license  authority   that  exceeds the level of privileges granted to individuals who are licensed under the code  to   engage in the practice of optometry.

(3)   An applicant shall have successfully completed in the state of the United States or province of Canada of his or her initial licensure an examination that includes an assessment of his or her knowledge on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of ocular diseases with pharmaceutical agents.

(4)   An applicant who was first licensed in another state of the United States or province of Canada is presumed to have met the requirements of section 16186(1)(a) and (b) of the code, if he or she meets  all  of  the following requirements:

(a)   Verifies that he or she has engaged in the practice of optometry for  a minimum of 3 of the last 4 years before the date of filing an application for a Michigan optometrist license. An applicant  shall  submit  either  of the following as verification:

(i)    Documentation of having practiced optometry for the period of time specified under subdivision (a) of this subrule.

(ii)    A current certificate issued by the council on endorsed licensure mobility for optometrists (celmo) or its successor organization as determined by the board.

(b)  Provides for verification of his or her license, on a form provided by the department, by the licensing agency of another state of the United States or province of Canada in which the applicant holds a current license or ever held a license as an optometrist, which includes, but is not limited to, showing proof of any disciplinary action taken or pending disciplinary action imposed upon the applicant.

(c)   Achieves a minimum scaled score of 75 on the examination of Michigan laws and rules related to the practice of optometry that is administered by the department.

(5)   An applicant who was first licensed in another state of the United States or province of Canada, but who does not meet the requirements of subrule

(4)(a) of this rule, shall satisfy the following requirements:

(a)  Achieves a score of pass on all parts of the examination given  by the national board of examiners in optometry or its successor organization, or the testing agency currently recognized or endorsed by the association of regulatory boards of optometry or its successor organization.

(b)   Achieves a minimum scaled score of 75 on the examination of Michigan laws and rules related to the practice of optometry that is administered by the department.

(c)     Provides for verification of his or her license, on a form provided by the department, by the licensing agency of any state of the United States or province of Canada in which the applicant holds a current license or  ever

held a license as an optometrist, which includes, but is  not   limited  to, showing proof of any disciplinary action taken or pending disciplinary action imposed upon the applicant.

(6)   An applicant shall hold a license granting  therapeutic  prescriptive certification at the highest level authorized in any state of the United States or province of Canada where he or she currently practices.

History: 1944 AC; 1954 AC; 1979 AC; 1983 AACS; 1990 AACS; 2003 AACS; 2010 AACS.