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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>63227</law_id><section_number>54.1-3202</section_number><catch_line>Exemptions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="32">Optometry</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>This chapter shall not apply to:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Physicians licensed to practice medicine by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of Medicine or to prohibit the sale of nonprescription eyeglasses and sunglasses; <a id="paragraph-230508" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3202/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> with the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>; (v) notifies the <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">Board</span>&#x2019;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 <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> may deny the right to practice in the Commonwealth to any <span class="dictionary">optometrist</span> whose license or certificate has been previously suspended or revoked, who has been convicted of a <span class="dictionary">felony</span>, or who is otherwise found to be in violation of applicable <span class="dictionary">laws</span> or regulations. However, the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall allow an <span class="dictionary">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 <a id="paragraph-230509" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3202/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Any student, intern, or trainee in optometry who is performing optometric services under the direct supervision of a licensed <span class="dictionary">optometrist</span> or ophthalmologist as part of a course of study at an accredited institution of higher education. <a id="paragraph-230510" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3202/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 54-369; 1988, c. 765; 2002, c. 740; 2008, c. 674; 2009, cc. 353, 761; 2023, c. 268.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
