{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-3215.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-3215.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-3215.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-3215.html"}],"law_id":72375,"edition_id":1,"section_id":72375,"structure_id":15505,"section_number":"54.1-3215","catch_line":"Board actions; reprimand, suspension, revocation, etc","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 54-388; 1968, c. 505; 1976, c. 758; 1977, c. 161; 1979, c. 39; 1988, c. 765; 1990, c. 307; 1992, c. 574; 1999, c. 937; 2023, c. 268.","full_text":"The Board may refuse to admit an applicant to any examination; refuse to grant or renew a license or certificate; reprimand, place on probation, or impose a monetary penalty on a licensee; or impose such terms as it may designate, suspend for a stated period of time, or revoke any license or certificate for any of the following causes:\n\n1\n\nFraud or deceit in his practice;2\n\nConviction of any felony under the laws of the Commonwealth, another state, the District of Columbia, or any United States possession or territory or of any misdemeanor under such laws involving moral turpitude;3\n\nConducting his practice in such a manner as to endanger the health and welfare of his patients or the public;4\n\nUse of alcohol or drugs to the extent such use renders him unsafe to practice optometry or mental or physical illness rendering him unsafe to practice optometry;5\n\nKnowingly and willfully employing an unlicensed person to do anything for which a license to practice optometry is required;6\n\nNeglecting or refusing to display his license for the current year;7\n\nObtaining of any fee by fraud or misrepresentation or the practice of deception or fraud upon any patient;8\n\nAdvertising that directly or indirectly deceives, misleads, or defrauds the public, claims professional superiority, or offers free optometrical services or examinations;9\n\nEmploying, procuring, or inducing a person not licensed to practice optometry to so practice;10\n\nAiding or abetting in the practice of optometry any person not duly licensed to practice in the Commonwealth;11\n\nAdvertising, practicing, or attempting to practice optometry under a name other than one’s own name as set forth on the license;12\n\nLending, leasing, renting, or in any other manner placing his license at the disposal or in the service of any person not licensed to practice optometry in the Commonwealth;13\n\nSplitting or dividing a fee with any person or persons other than with a licensed optometrist who is a legal partner or comember of a professional limited liability company formed to engage in the practice of optometry;14\n\nPracticing optometry where any officer, employee, or agent of a commercial or mercantile establishment, as defined in subsection C of § 54.1-3205, who is not licensed in the Commonwealth to practice optometry or medicine directly or indirectly controls, dictates, or influences the professional judgment, including but not limited to the level or type of care or services rendered, of the licensed optometrist;15\n\nViolating other standards of conduct as adopted by the Board;16\n\nViolating, assisting, inducing, or cooperating with others in violating any provisions of law relating to the practice of optometry, including the provisions of this chapter or of any regulation of the Board.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":260707,"text":"The Board may refuse to admit an applicant to any examination; refuse to grant or renew a license or certificate; reprimand, place on probation, or impose a monetary penalty on a licensee; or impose such terms as it may designate, suspend for a stated period of time, or revoke any license or certificate for any of the following causes:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":260708,"text":"Fraud or deceit in his practice;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":260709,"text":"Conviction of any felony under the laws of the Commonwealth, another state, the District of Columbia, or any United States possession or territory or of any misdemeanor under such laws involving moral turpitude;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":260710,"text":"Conducting his practice in such a manner as to endanger the health and welfare of his patients or the public;","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":260711,"text":"Use of alcohol or drugs to the extent such use renders him unsafe to practice optometry or mental or physical illness rendering him unsafe to practice optometry;","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":260712,"text":"Knowingly and willfully employing an unlicensed person to do anything for which a license to practice optometry is required;","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":260713,"text":"Neglecting or refusing to display his license for the current year;","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":260714,"text":"Obtaining of any fee by fraud or misrepresentation or the practice of deception or fraud upon any patient;","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6","next_prefix":"8"},"8":{"id":260715,"text":"Advertising that directly or indirectly deceives, misleads, or defrauds the public, claims professional superiority, or offers free optometrical services or examinations;","type":"section","prefixes":["8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"8","prefix_anchor":"8","level":1,"prior_prefix":"7","next_prefix":"9"},"9":{"id":260716,"text":"Employing, procuring, or inducing a person not licensed to practice optometry to so practice;","type":"section","prefixes":["9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"9","prefix_anchor":"9","level":1,"prior_prefix":"8","next_prefix":"10"},"10":{"id":260717,"text":"Aiding or abetting in the practice of optometry any person not duly licensed to practice in the Commonwealth;","type":"section","prefixes":["10"],"prefix":"10","entire_prefix":"10","prefix_anchor":"10","level":1,"prior_prefix":"9","next_prefix":"11"},"11":{"id":260718,"text":"Advertising, practicing, or attempting to practice optometry under a name other than one’s own name as set forth on the license;","type":"section","prefixes":["11"],"prefix":"11","entire_prefix":"11","prefix_anchor":"11","level":1,"prior_prefix":"10","next_prefix":"12"},"12":{"id":260719,"text":"Lending, leasing, renting, or in any other manner placing his license at the disposal or in the service of any person not licensed to practice optometry in the Commonwealth;","type":"section","prefixes":["12"],"prefix":"12","entire_prefix":"12","prefix_anchor":"12","level":1,"prior_prefix":"11","next_prefix":"13"},"13":{"id":260720,"text":"Splitting or dividing a fee with any person or persons other than with a licensed optometrist who is a legal partner or comember of a professional limited liability company formed to engage in the practice of optometry;","type":"section","prefixes":["13"],"prefix":"13","entire_prefix":"13","prefix_anchor":"13","level":1,"prior_prefix":"12","next_prefix":"14"},"14":{"id":260721,"text":"Practicing optometry where any officer, employee, or agent of a commercial or mercantile establishment, as defined in subsection C of § 54.1-3205, who is not licensed in the Commonwealth to practice optometry or medicine directly or indirectly controls, dictates, or influences the professional judgment, including but not limited to the level or type of care or services rendered, of the licensed optometrist;","type":"section","prefixes":["14"],"prefix":"14","entire_prefix":"14","prefix_anchor":"14","level":1,"prior_prefix":"13","next_prefix":"15"},"15":{"id":260722,"text":"Violating other standards of conduct as adopted by the Board;","type":"section","prefixes":["15"],"prefix":"15","entire_prefix":"15","prefix_anchor":"15","level":1,"prior_prefix":"14","next_prefix":"16"},"16":{"id":260723,"text":"Violating, assisting, inducing, or cooperating with others in violating any provisions of law relating to the practice of optometry, including the provisions of this chapter or of any regulation of the Board.","type":"section","prefixes":["16"],"prefix":"16","entire_prefix":"16","prefix_anchor":"16","level":1,"prior_prefix":"15"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15505,"edition_id":1,"name":"Licensure of Optometrists","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13078,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:55:37","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:55:37","permalink":{"id":243029,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15505,"identifier":"3","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/3","url":"\/54.1\/III\/32\/3\/","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":65954,"structure_id":15505,"section_number":"54.1-3212","catch_line":"Qualifications of applicants","url":"\/54.1-3212\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/3\/54.1-3212","metadata":false},{"id":59086,"structure_id":15505,"section_number":"54.1-3213","catch_line":"License to practice optometry; requirements; renewal; fees","url":"\/54.1-3213\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/3\/54.1-3213","metadata":false},{"id":59913,"structure_id":15505,"section_number":"54.1-3214","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3214\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/3\/54.1-3214","metadata":false},{"id":72375,"structure_id":15505,"section_number":"54.1-3215","catch_line":"Board actions; reprimand, suspension, revocation, etc","url":"\/54.1-3215\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/3\/54.1-3215","metadata":false},{"id":72749,"structure_id":15505,"section_number":"54.1-3216","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3216\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/3\/54.1-3216","metadata":false},{"id":59641,"structure_id":15505,"section_number":"54.1-3217","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3217\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/3\/54.1-3217","metadata":false},{"id":74186,"structure_id":15505,"section_number":"54.1-3218","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3218\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/3\/54.1-3218","metadata":false},{"id":74947,"structure_id":15505,"section_number":"54.1-3219","catch_line":"Continuing education","url":"\/54.1-3219\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/3\/54.1-3219","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":59913,"structure_id":15505,"section_number":"54.1-3214","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3214\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/3\/54.1-3214","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":72749,"structure_id":15505,"section_number":"54.1-3216","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3216\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/3\/54.1-3216","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-3215\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 9 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 1968, chapter 505; in 1976, chapter 758; in 1977, chapter 161; in 1979, chapter 39; in 1988, chapter 765; in 1990, chapter 307; in 1992, chapter 574; in 1999, chapter 937<\/a>; in 2023, chapter 268<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":59375,"section_number":"54.1-3205","catch_line":"Practicing in a commercial or mercantile establishment","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3205\/"}],"permalink":{"id":243043,"object_type":"law","relational_id":72375,"identifier":"54.1-3215","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/3\/54.1-3215","url":"\/54.1-3215\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-3215\/","token":"54.1\/III\/32\/3\/54.1-3215","dublin_core":{"Title":"Board actions; reprimand, suspension, revocation, etc","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-3215","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Board<\/span> may refuse to admit an applicant to any examination; refuse to grant or renew a license or certificate; reprimand, place on probation<\/span>, or impose a monetary penalty<\/span> on a licensee; or impose such terms as it may designate, suspend for a stated period of time, or revoke any license or certificate for any of the following causes:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Fraud<\/span> or deceit in his practice; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Conviction<\/span> of any felony<\/span> under the laws<\/span> of the Commonwealth, another state, the District of Columbia, or any United States possession<\/span> or territory or of any misdemeanor<\/span> under such laws<\/span> involving moral turpitude<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Conducting his practice in such a manner as to endanger the health and welfare of his patients or the public; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Use of alcohol or drugs to the extent such use renders him unsafe to practice optometry or mental or physical illness rendering him unsafe to practice optometry; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Knowingly and willfully employing an unlicensed person to do anything for which a license to practice optometry is required; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Neglecting or refusing to display his license for the current year; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Obtaining of any fee by fraud<\/span> or misrepresentation or the practice of deception or fraud<\/span> upon any patient; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> Advertising that directly or indirectly deceives, misleads, or defrauds the public, claims professional superiority, or offers free optometrical services or examinations; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> Employing, procuring, or inducing a person not licensed to practice optometry to so practice; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

10.<\/span> Aiding or abetting in the practice of optometry<\/span> any person not duly licensed to practice in the Commonwealth; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

11.<\/span> Advertising, practicing, or attempting to practice optometry under a name other than one’s own name as set forth on the license; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

12.<\/span> Lending, leasing, renting, or in any other manner placing his license at the disposal or in the service of any person not licensed to practice optometry in the Commonwealth; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

13.<\/span> Splitting or dividing a fee with any person or persons other than with a licensed optometrist<\/span> who is a legal partner or comember of a professional limited liability company formed to engage in the practice of optometry<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

14.<\/span> Practicing optometry where any officer, employee, or agent of a commercial or mercantile establishment, as defined in subsection C of § 54.1-3205<\/a>, who is not licensed in the Commonwealth to practice optometry or medicine directly or indirectly controls, dictates, or influences the professional judgment<\/span>, including but not limited to the level or type of care or services rendered, of the licensed optometrist<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

15.<\/span> Violating other standards of conduct as adopted by the Board<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

16.<\/span> Violating, assisting, inducing, or cooperating with others in violating any provisions of law<\/span> relating to the practice of optometry<\/span>, including the provisions of this chapter or of any regulation of the Board<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nBOARD ACTIONS; REPRIMAND, SUSPENSION, REVOCATION, ETC (\u00a7 54.1-3215)\n\nThe Board may refuse to admit an applicant to any examination; refuse to grant\nor renew a license or certificate; reprimand, place on probation, or impose a\nmonetary penalty on a licensee; or impose such terms as it may designate,\nsuspend for a stated period of time, or revoke any license or certificate for\nany of the following causes:\n\n1. Fraud or deceit in his practice;\n\n2. Conviction of any felony under the laws of the Commonwealth, another state,\nthe District of Columbia, or any United States possession or territory or of any\nmisdemeanor under such laws involving moral turpitude;\n\n3. Conducting his practice in such a manner as to endanger the health and\nwelfare of his patients or the public;\n\n4. Use of alcohol or drugs to the extent such use renders him unsafe to practice\noptometry or mental or physical illness rendering him unsafe to practice\noptometry;\n\n5. Knowingly and willfully employing an unlicensed person to do anything for\nwhich a license to practice optometry is required;\n\n6. Neglecting or refusing to display his license for the current year;\n\n7. Obtaining of any fee by fraud or misrepresentation or the practice of\ndeception or fraud upon any patient;\n\n8. Advertising that directly or indirectly deceives, misleads, or defrauds the\npublic, claims professional superiority, or offers free optometrical services or\nexaminations;\n\n9. Employing, procuring, or inducing a person not licensed to practice optometry\nto so practice;\n\n10. Aiding or abetting in the practice of optometry any person not duly licensed\nto practice in the Commonwealth;\n\n11. Advertising, practicing, or attempting to practice optometry under a name\nother than one’s own name as set forth on the license;\n\n12. Lending, leasing, renting, or in any other manner placing his license at the\ndisposal or in the service of any person not licensed to practice optometry in\nthe Commonwealth;\n\n13. Splitting or dividing a fee with any person or persons other than with a\nlicensed optometrist who is a legal partner or comember of a professional\nlimited liability company formed to engage in the practice of optometry;\n\n14. Practicing optometry where any officer, employee, or agent of a commercial\nor mercantile establishment, as defined in subsection C of § 54.1-3205, who\nis not licensed in the Commonwealth to practice optometry or medicine directly\nor indirectly controls, dictates, or influences the professional judgment,\nincluding but not limited to the level or type of care or services rendered, of\nthe licensed optometrist;\n\n15. Violating other standards of conduct as adopted by the Board;\n\n16. Violating, assisting, inducing, or cooperating with others in violating any\nprovisions of law relating to the practice of optometry, including the\nprovisions of this chapter or of any regulation of the Board.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 54-388; 1968, c. 505; 1976, c. 758; 1977, c. 161; 1979,\nc. 39; 1988, c. 765; 1990, c. 307; 1992, c. 574; 1999, c. 937; 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}}