Licensure and certification by examination.

(1) Any person desiring to be a licensed practitioner under this chapter must apply to the department, submit to background screening in accordance with s. 456.0135, and submit proof to the department that she or he meets all of the following criteria:

(a) Has completed the application forms as required by the board, remitted an application fee for certification not to exceed $250, remitted an examination fee for certification not to exceed $250, and remitted an examination fee for licensure not to exceed $325, all as set by the board.

(b) Is at least 18 years of age.

(c) Has graduated from an accredited school or college of optometry approved by rule of the board.

(d) Is of good moral character.

(e) Has successfully completed at least 110 hours of transcript-quality coursework and clinical training in general and ocular pharmacology as determined by the board, at an institution that:

1. Has facilities for both didactic and clinical instructions in pharmacology; and

2. Is accredited by a regional or professional accrediting organization that is recognized and approved by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation or the United States Department of Education.

(f) Has completed at least 1 year of supervised experience in differential diagnosis of eye disease or disorders as part of the optometric training or in a clinical setting as part of the optometric experience.

(2) The board shall approve a licensure examination consisting of the appropriate subjects and including applicable state laws and rules and general and ocular pharmacology with emphasis on the use and side effects of ocular pharmaceutical agents. The board may by rule substitute a national examination as part or all of the examination and, notwithstanding chapter 456, may by rule offer a practical examination in addition to a written examination.

(3) Each applicant who submits proof satisfactory to the board that he or she has met the requirements of subsection (1), who successfully passes the licensure examination within 3 years before the date of application or after the submission of an application, and who otherwise meets the requirements of this chapter is entitled to be licensed as a practitioner and to be certified to administer and prescribe ocular pharmaceutical agents in the diagnosis and treatment of ocular conditions.