{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-3202.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-3202.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-3202.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-3202.html"}],"law_id":63227,"edition_id":1,"section_id":63227,"structure_id":15566,"section_number":"54.1-3202","catch_line":"Exemptions","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 54-369; 1988, c. 765; 2002, c. 740; 2008, c. 674; 2009, cc. 353, 761; 2023, c. 268.","full_text":"This chapter shall not apply to:\n\n1\n\nPhysicians licensed to practice medicine by the Board of Medicine or to prohibit the sale of nonprescription eyeglasses and sunglasses;2\n\nAny optometrist rendering free health care to an underserved population in the Commonwealth who (i) does not regularly practice optometry in the Commonwealth; (ii) holds a current valid license or certificate to practice optometry in another state, territory, district, or possession of the United States; (iii) volunteers to provide free health care in an underserved area of the Commonwealth under the auspices of a publicly supported, all volunteer nonprofit organization that sponsors the provision of health care to populations of underserved people; (iv) files a copy of his license or certification in such other jurisdiction with the Board; (v) notifies the Board at least five business days prior to the voluntary provision of services of the dates and location of such service; and (vi) acknowledges, in writing, that such licensure exemption shall only be valid, in compliance with the Board’s regulations, during the limited period that such free health care is made available through the volunteer nonprofit organization on the dates and at the location filed with the Board. The Board may deny the right to practice in the Commonwealth to any optometrist whose license or certificate has been previously suspended or revoked, who has been convicted of a felony, or who is otherwise found to be in violation of applicable laws or regulations. However, the Board shall allow an optometrist who meets the criteria of this subdivision to provide volunteer services without prior notice for a period of up to three days, provided the nonprofit organization verifies that the practitioner has a valid, unrestricted license in another state; or3\n\nAny student, intern, or trainee in optometry who is performing optometric services under the direct supervision of a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist as part of a course of study at an accredited institution of higher education.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":230507,"text":"This chapter shall not apply to:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":230508,"text":"Physicians licensed to practice medicine by the Board of Medicine or to prohibit the sale of nonprescription eyeglasses and sunglasses;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":230509,"text":"Any optometrist rendering free health care to an underserved population in the Commonwealth who (i) does not regularly practice optometry in the Commonwealth; (ii) holds a current valid license or certificate to practice optometry in another state, territory, district, or possession of the United States; (iii) volunteers to provide free health care in an underserved area of the Commonwealth under the auspices of a publicly supported, all volunteer nonprofit organization that sponsors the provision of health care to populations of underserved people; (iv) files a copy of his license or certification in such other jurisdiction with the Board; (v) notifies the Board at least five business days prior to the voluntary provision of services of the dates and location of such service; and (vi) acknowledges, in writing, that such licensure exemption shall only be valid, in compliance with the Board’s regulations, during the limited period that such free health care is made available through the volunteer nonprofit organization on the dates and at the location filed with the Board. The Board may deny the right to practice in the Commonwealth to any optometrist whose license or certificate has been previously suspended or revoked, who has been convicted of a felony, or who is otherwise found to be in violation of applicable laws or regulations. However, the Board shall allow an optometrist who meets the criteria of this subdivision to provide volunteer services without prior notice for a period of up to three days, provided the nonprofit organization verifies that the practitioner has a valid, unrestricted license in another state; or","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":230510,"text":"Any student, intern, or trainee in optometry who is performing optometric services under the direct supervision of a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist as part of a course of study at an accredited institution of higher education.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15566,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13078,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:56:22","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:56:22","permalink":{"id":242973,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15566,"identifier":"1","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/1","url":"\/54.1\/III\/32\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13078,"edition_id":1,"name":"Optometry","identifier":"32","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12758,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:14","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:14","permalink":{"id":242971,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13078,"identifier":"32","token":"54.1\/III\/32","url":"\/54.1\/III\/32\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12758,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":241105,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12758,"identifier":"III","token":"54.1\/III","url":"\/54.1\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":84550,"structure_id":15566,"section_number":"54.1-3200","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/54.1-3200\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/1\/54.1-3200","metadata":false},{"id":72925,"structure_id":15566,"section_number":"54.1-3201","catch_line":"What constitutes practice of optometry","url":"\/54.1-3201\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/1\/54.1-3201","metadata":false},{"id":63227,"structure_id":15566,"section_number":"54.1-3202","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/54.1-3202\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/1\/54.1-3202","metadata":false},{"id":79009,"structure_id":15566,"section_number":"54.1-3203","catch_line":"License to be displayed","url":"\/54.1-3203\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/1\/54.1-3203","metadata":false},{"id":73693,"structure_id":15566,"section_number":"54.1-3204","catch_line":"Prohibited acts","url":"\/54.1-3204\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/1\/54.1-3204","metadata":false},{"id":59375,"structure_id":15566,"section_number":"54.1-3205","catch_line":"Practicing in a commercial or mercantile establishment","url":"\/54.1-3205\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/1\/54.1-3205","metadata":false},{"id":80034,"structure_id":15566,"section_number":"54.1-3205.1","catch_line":"Supervision by unlicensed persons prohibited","url":"\/54.1-3205.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/1\/54.1-3205.1","metadata":false},{"id":80593,"structure_id":15566,"section_number":"54.1-3206","catch_line":"Report of conviction or injunction to Board; revocation or suspension of license","url":"\/54.1-3206\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/1\/54.1-3206","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":72925,"structure_id":15566,"section_number":"54.1-3201","catch_line":"What constitutes practice of optometry","url":"\/54.1-3201\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/1\/54.1-3201","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":79009,"structure_id":15566,"section_number":"54.1-3203","catch_line":"License to be displayed","url":"\/54.1-3203\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/1\/54.1-3203","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-3202\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 5 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1988, chapter 765; in 2002, chapter 740<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 674<\/a>; in 2009, chapters 353<\/a> and 761<\/a>; in 2023, chapter 268<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":242983,"object_type":"law","relational_id":63227,"identifier":"54.1-3202","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/1\/54.1-3202","url":"\/54.1-3202\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-3202\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/1\/54.1-3202","dublin_core":{"Title":"Exemptions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-3202","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

This chapter shall not apply to:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Physicians licensed to practice medicine by the Board<\/span> of Medicine or to prohibit the sale of nonprescription eyeglasses and sunglasses; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Any optometrist<\/span> rendering free health care to an underserved population in the Commonwealth who (i) does not regularly practice optometry in the Commonwealth; (ii) holds a current valid license or certificate to practice optometry in another state, territory, district, or possession<\/span> of the United States; (iii) volunteers to provide free health care in an underserved area of the Commonwealth under the auspices of a publicly supported, all volunteer nonprofit organization that sponsors the provision of health care to populations of underserved people; (iv) files a copy of his license or certification in such other jurisdiction<\/span> with the Board<\/span>; (v) notifies the Board<\/span> at least five business days prior to the voluntary provision of services of the dates and location of such service; and (vi) acknowledges, in writing, that such licensure exemption shall only be valid, in compliance with the Board<\/span>’s regulations, during the limited period that such free health care is made available through the volunteer nonprofit organization on the dates and at the location filed with the Board<\/span>. The Board<\/span> may deny the right to practice in the Commonwealth to any optometrist<\/span> whose license or certificate has been previously suspended or revoked, who has been convicted of a felony<\/span>, or who is otherwise found to be in violation of applicable laws<\/span> or regulations. However, the Board<\/span> shall allow an optometrist<\/span> who meets the criteria of this subdivision to provide volunteer services without prior notice for a period of up to three days, provided the nonprofit organization verifies that the practitioner has a valid, unrestricted license in another state; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Any student, intern, or trainee in optometry who is performing optometric services under the direct supervision of a licensed optometrist<\/span> or ophthalmologist as part of a course of study at an accredited institution of higher education. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nEXEMPTIONS (\u00a7 54.1-3202)\n\nThis chapter shall not apply to:\n\n1. Physicians licensed to practice medicine by the Board of Medicine or to\nprohibit the sale of nonprescription eyeglasses and sunglasses;\n\n2. Any optometrist rendering free health care to an underserved population in\nthe Commonwealth who (i) does not regularly practice optometry in the\nCommonwealth; (ii) holds a current valid license or certificate to practice\noptometry in another state, territory, district, or possession of the United\nStates; (iii) volunteers to provide free health care in an underserved area of\nthe Commonwealth under the auspices of a publicly supported, all volunteer\nnonprofit organization that sponsors the provision of health care to populations\nof underserved people; (iv) files a copy of his license or certification in such\nother jurisdiction with the Board; (v) notifies the Board at least five business\ndays prior to the voluntary provision of services of the dates and location of\nsuch service; and (vi) acknowledges, in writing, that such licensure exemption\nshall only be valid, in compliance with the Board’s regulations, during\nthe limited period that such free health care is made available through the\nvolunteer nonprofit organization on the dates and at the location filed with the\nBoard. The Board may deny the right to practice in the Commonwealth to any\noptometrist whose license or certificate has been previously suspended or\nrevoked, who has been convicted of a felony, or who is otherwise found to be in\nviolation of applicable laws or regulations. However, the Board shall allow an\noptometrist who meets the criteria of this subdivision to provide volunteer\nservices without prior notice for a period of up to three days, provided the\nnonprofit organization verifies that the practitioner has a valid, unrestricted\nlicense in another state; or\n\n3. Any student, intern, or trainee in optometry who is performing optometric\nservices under the direct supervision of a licensed optometrist or\nophthalmologist as part of a course of study at an accredited institution of\nhigher education.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 54-369; 1988, c. 765; 2002, c. 740; 2008, c. 674; 2009,\ncc. 353, 761; 2023, c. 268.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}