                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

EXEMPTIONS (§ 54.1-3202)

This chapter shall not apply to:

1. Physicians licensed to practice medicine by the Board of Medicine or to
prohibit the sale of nonprescription eyeglasses and sunglasses;

2. 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&#8217;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

3. 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.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 54-369; 1988, c. 765; 2002, c. 740; 2008, c. 674; 2009,
cc. 353, 761; 2023, c. 268.