Frequently Asked Questions

You may check the status of your application in real time via our Online Services, using your User ID and password. If you lose your User ID and password, contact Licensure Support Services at (850) 488-0595 to get this information.

You may use our License Look-Up Search screen.

Any substantially affected person (i.e. a licensee or applicant) may seek a Declaratory Statement. Declaratory statements regarding an opinion of a board, or the department when there is no board, as to the applicability of a statutory provision, or of any rule or order of the board, or department when there is no board, as it applies to the licensees particular set of circumstances, pursuant to Section 120.565, Florida Statutes. The petition seeking a declaratory statement must state with particularity the licensees set of circumstances and must specify the statutory provision, rule, or order that the licensee believes may apply to the set of circumstances.

By visiting the board’s meetings page. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on either past or upcoming meetings. Review the meeting dates to locate the agenda you need, and the board’s agenda should be posted on the right under Materials.

To view a list of actively licensed practitioners, use the License Verification Search and select the county and profession from the drop-down list.

Yes. The initial biennium in which you are licensed, you will be required to complete one (1) hour of HIV/AIDS.

https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ChapterHome.asp?Chapter=64B13-5

No, Florida offers licensure by examination only.

Below are the statutes and rules providing the requirements for requesting a Petition for (Variance from) or (Waiver of) Rule (Citation)

Florida Statutes – 120.542 Variances and waivers

Florida Administrative Code (Rules) Chapter 28-104: Variance OR Waiver

The 2013 legislative session brought very important changes for the practice of optometry. On April 19, 2013, Governor Rick Scott signed HB-239 into law, which significantly increased the scope of practice of optometry. One of those changes impacts when and how adverse incidents in the practice of optometry are reported to the Department of Health.

Effective January 1, 2014, certified optometrists will be required to report to the Department of Health any adverse incidents in the practice of optometry. An adverse incident is defined to mean, “any of the following events when it is reasonable to believe that the event is attributable to the prescription of an oral ocular pharmaceutical agent” by a certified optometrist:

• Any condition requiring a patient’s transfer to a hospital;
• Any condition that requires care and treatment from a physician, other than a referral or consultation;
• Permanent physical injury to the patient;
• Partial or complete permanent loss of sight by the patient; or
• Death of the patient.

The reports must be:

• Sent by certified mail; and
• Postmarked within 15 days after the adverse incident occurs.

Mail the completed Adverse Incident Form to:

Department of Health
Consumer Services Unit
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C75
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3275

As of March 13, 2014, Rule 64B13-16.002, F.A.C., was repealed and Optometrists no
longer are required to renew their Branch office license.

You would need to submit a written request to the Department, including a list of all
Branch Office locations