Only those optometrists meeting the requirements of this Article may apply for TPA Certification to use Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents. The Application for TPA Certification (Form TPA-1 Rev. 4/96), which is hereby incorporated by reference, may be obtained from the Board's Headquarters office. Requirements for TPA certification are as follows:
(a) If the applicant is licensed to practice optometry in California and graduated from an accredited school of optometry prior to January 1, 1992:
(1) Completion of an 80-hour TPA didactic course provided either by the University of California at Berkeley School of Optometry or the Southern California College of Optometry or recognized ophthalmological residency review committee or at an accredited school or college located outside of California as provided in Section 1570 in this Article.
(2) Pass the examination given at the conclusion of the TPA course.
(3) Pass the TMOD component of the NBEO administered after July 1, 1992.
(4) Complete 20 hours of self directed study in the treatment and management of ocular, systemic disease.
(5) Complete a 65-hour preceptorship service as defined in Section 1567 in this Article.
(b) If the applicant is a licensed optometrist in California and graduated from an accredited school of optometry after January 1, 1992 but before January 1, 1996:
(1) Complete 20 hours of self directed study in the treatment and management of ocular, systemic disease.
(2) Complete a 65-hour preceptorship service as defined in Section 1567 in this Article.
(c) If the applicant is a graduate from an accredited school of optometry after January 1, 1996:
(1) Obtain a California optometrist license.
(2) Be certified by an accredited school of optometry that the applicant is competent in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of ocular, systemic disease.
(3) Be certified by an accredited school of optometry that the applicant has completed 10 hours of experience with an ophthalmologist.
(d) If the applicant is licensed outside California and graduated from an accredited school of optometry before January 1, 1992:
(1) Obtain a California optometrist license.
(2) Completion of an 80-hour TPA didactic course provided either by University of California at Berkeley School of Optometry or Southern California College of Optometry or recognized ophthalmological residency review committee or at an out-of-state school as provided in Section 1570 in this Article.
(3) Pass the examination given at the conclusion of the TPA course.
(4) Pass the TMOD component of the NBEO administered after July 1, 1992.
(5) Complete 20 hours of self directed study in the treatment and management of ocular, systemic disease.
(6) Complete a 65-hour preceptorship service as defined in Section 1567 in this Article.
(e) If the applicant is licensed outside California and graduated from an accredited school of optometry after January 1, 1992 but prior to January 1, 1996:
(1) Obtain a California optometrist license.
(2) Complete 20 hours of self directed study in the treatment and of management of ocular, systemic disease.
(3) Complete a 65-hour preceptorship service as defined in Section 1567 in this Article.
(f) If the applicant is licensed in a state outside of California, graduated from an accredited school of optometry prior to January 1, 1992 and has practiced in that state, or on a reservation or a facility supported and maintained by the United States government with a TPA license:
(1) Obtain a California optometrist license.
(2) Pass the TMOD component of the NBEO administered after July 1, 1992.
(3) Complete a 65-hour preceptorship service as defined in Section 1567 in this Article.
(g) If the applicant is licensed in a state outside of California, graduated from an accredited school of optometry after January 1, 1992 but before January 1, 1996 and has practiced in that state or on a reservation or a facility supported and maintained by the United States government with a TPA license:
(1) Complete 20 hours of self directed study in the treatment and of management of ocular, systemic disease.
(2) Complete a 65-hour preceptorship service as defined in Section 1567 in this Article.
(h) All TPA certified optometrists pursuant to this Article must complete 50 hours of continuing education in order to renew licensure. Thirty-five of the required hours shall be in the diagnosis, treatment and management of ocular, and systemic disease consistent with Business and Professions Code section 3059, subdivision (f).
(i) If the applicant is licensed in a state outside of California and requests that the 65-hour preceptorship service requirement contained in subdivisions (e), (f) and (g) be waived based on their optometric practice experience using TPA in another state, the Board, as authorized under Business and Professions Code Section 3041.3(d)(1), shall deem the experience as equivalent to the 65-hour preceptorship service required in California provided the following conditions are met:
1. Applicant is licensed in good standing in their state of licensure.
2. Applicant has graduated from an accredited school of optometry before January 1, 1996.
3. Applicant has met the requirements to treat with therapeutic pharmaceutical agents in their state of licensure.
4. Applicant has been practicing optometry in their state of licensure using therapeutic pharmaceutical agents for 5 continuous years immediately preceding the submission of their application.
Credits
Note: Authority cited: Sections 3025 and 3041.2, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 3041.3 and 3059, Business and Professions Code.
