Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0480-01-.14 - APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAM

(1) Any person wishing to practice the profession of dispensing opticianry and who intends to fulfill the education and training requirements via the apprenticeship provision shall make application to and register with the Board pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-14-103(a)(1) and (f).

(a) The apprenticeship applicant shall designate, in the application, a Sponsoring Supervisor.

(b) The Board administrator shall notify the apprenticeship applicant of the apprenticeship training program start date. Apprenticeship hours cannot begin and will not be counted until notification from the Board's administrator.

(c) Except as provided in Rule 0480-01-.04(4), only training that occurs on or after the training program start date shall be counted towards meeting the three (3) year minimum requirement.

(d) The apprenticeship applicant shall cause to be submitted to the Board administrative office directly from the vendor identified in the Board's application materials, the result of a criminal background check. Pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-1-130, a person who applies for the apprenticeship training program who has a criminal conviction that directly relates to the occupation of an Apprentice or a Dispensing Optician may be denied. An applicant may be required to appear before the Board to provide details of the conviction prior to the Board granting approval into the apprenticeship program.

(2) Apprenticeship training programs must be conducted under Sponsoring Supervision.

(a) The Sponsoring Supervisor shall work on the premises where the Apprentice is assigned.

(b) The Sponsoring Supervisor shall provide Sponsoring Supervision at all times in accordance with T.C.A. § 63-14-103(a) and (f) and Rule 0480-01-.01(25), unless the Apprentice is temporarily under the Direct Supervision of a non-sponsoring Supervisor as defined in Rule 0480-01-.01(27).

(3) Changes in any of the information provided in the Apprentice's application, including the Sponsoring Supervisor of an Apprentice, shall be reported to the Board in writing within 30 days of such change.

(4) Length of Training Program - Pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-14-103(a)(1), the period of apprenticeship training shall be not less than three (3) years and no more than six (6) years and must include a total of five thousand two hundred and fifty (5,250) hours of full time or part time education and training under qualified supervision. If the apprenticeship is not completed within a maximum of six (6) years, the applicant shall be required to start the apprenticeship program from the beginning.

(a) Full Time - Full-time work is defined as fifty (50) weeks of at least thirty-five (35) hours per week or one thousand, seven hundred and fifty (1,750) hours per year.

(b) Part Time - Any part-time work must be at least five hundred (500) hours per year to count toward the five thousand two hundred and fifty (5,250) hour requirement.

(c) Optical Laboratory Work - No more than one (1) year/one thousand seven hundred and fifty (1,750) hours of credit will be allowed for experience obtained in an optical laboratory under supervision of a licensed eye care professional.

(d) Rescinding of Approval of Training Program

1. The Board may rescind its approval of any apprenticeship training program if it determines that the facilities and equipment available to the apprentice are not adequate or when the apprentice is not being properly trained or supervised.

2. The Board may rescind its approval of any apprenticeship training program if it determines that the Apprentice is not actively pursuing licensure including, but not limited to, working less than five hundred (500) hours per year as provided in subparagraph (4)(b), and failing to file semi-annual evaluation reports in a timely manner as provided in subparagraph (5)(c).

3. If the Board rescinds its approval of an apprenticeship training program, the apprentice may no longer work or train as a dispensing optician. To continue training, the apprentice must apply to the Board and register for a new apprenticeship training program and must begin a new three (3) year/five thousand two hundred and fifty (5,250) hour apprenticeship as provided in this rule.

(5) Sponsoring Supervisors, Supervisors, and Supervision

(a) Limitations

1. A Sponsoring Supervisor may provide Sponsoring Supervision for no more than two (2) Apprentices concurrently.

2. If a Supervisor, at the Supervisor's discretion, is providing temporary Direct Supervision for more than four (4) Apprentices concurrently, no more than four (4) of the Apprentices under that Supervisor's Direct Supervision shall receive credit for those hours.

(b) The Apprentice shall function under the supervision of a licensed supervisor who must be working in the same premises where the apprenticeship training program is conducted and must be present at all times (T.C.A. § 63-14-103).

(c) The filing of semi-annual evaluation reports for each Apprentice of a Sponsoring Supervisor is mandatory. Such reports shall be completed by an Apprentice's Sponsoring Supervisor, based on that Sponsoring Supervisor's review and approval of all work performed by the Apprentice while practicing under the Sponsoring Supervision. The Apprentice is responsible for filing the semi-annual reports to the Board administrative office. The appropriate form will be supplied by the Board and shall be notarized before filing. Semi-annual evaluation periods begin six (6) months from initial registration and each six (6) months thereafter until licensure as a Dispensing Optician has been achieved.

1. The semi-annual evaluation report must be received in the Board administrative office no later than thirty (30) days after the six (6) month training period has ended or the training period shall be disallowed and not considered as time toward fulfilling the five thousand, two hundred and fifty (5,250) hour requirement.

2. If two (2) semi-annual evaluation reports are not received by the Board administrative office within thirty (30) days after the applicable training periods have ended, the Board will rescind its approval of the apprenticeship training program. The Apprentice will not receive credit for the two (2) training periods for which the semi-annual evaluation reports were not submitted or were received by the Board administrative office later than thirty (30) days after the applicable training period. In order to continue the apprenticeship training program, a new application for an apprenticeship training program must be submitted.

(d) Hardship Waiver

1. The Board may in its discretion grant a waiver for the filing of semi-annual evaluation reports required in (5)(c) if it can be shown to the Board that the failure to comply was not attributable to, or was beyond the physical capabilities of, the individual, i.e.: disability, residence abroad, military service, or other instances of undue hardship. Such requests for waiver must be accompanied by written documentation acceptable to the Board.

2. Waivers will be considered only on an individual basis and may be requested by submitting the following items to the Board administrative office.

(i) A written request for a waiver which specifies what is sought to be waived and a written and signed explanation of the reasons for the request.

(ii) Any documentation which supports the reason for the waiver request or which may be subsequently requested by the Board.

(iii) A waiver may be granted for no longer than twelve (12) months (two (2) semi-annual reports.)

3. A waiver approved by the Board is effective for only the semi-annual evaluation reports requested in writing pursuant to subparagraphs (5)(d), unless otherwise specified in writing by the Board.

(6) The Apprenticeship Registration does not permit or empower the apprentice to practice as a Dispensing Optician during the absence of the sponsoring/designated licensed supervisor under whose supervision he or she is registered.

(a) Apprentice training for spectacle dispensing must include, but is not limited to the following subjects:

1. Optical Terminology

2. Anatomy of the Eye

3. Physiology of the Eye

4. Optical Concepts, Light Theory

5. Lens Power (Meridians of Power)

6. Lens Form and Analysis, Transposition

7. Base Curve, Radius of Curvature

8. Prism and Its Effect

9. Lens Types and Materials

10. Frame Styles, Sizes and Materials

11. Instrumentation

12. Prescription Analysis

13. Fitting of Eyewear

14. Ordering of Eyewear

15. Verification of Parameters

16. Bench Adjustment

17. Final Personal Adjustment/Alignment

18. Delivery Procedures

19. Laboratory Procedures:

(i) Blank Size

(ii) Patterns

(iii) Layout

(iv) Blocking

(v) Edging

(vi) Deblocking

(vii) Hand Edging

(viii) Grooving

(ix) Coatings

(x) Filters

(xi) Tints

(xii) Engraving

(xiii) Heat and Chemical Treating

(xiv) Testing for Impact Resistance

(xv) Mounting

(xvi) Alignment

(xvii) Inspection

(xviii) Verification

20. Repair, Replacement, Realignment

21. Subnormal Vision Aids

22. Inventory Management

23. Industry Standards (Z80 ANSI Standards)

24. State and Federal Laws

25. Physician/Technician Protocol and Relationships

26. Other Related Concepts:

(i) Basic Mathematics and Science

(ii) Public Relations

(iii) Sales

(iv) Accounting

(v) Management

(b) Apprenticeship training for contact lens dispensing must include, but is not limited to, these subjects:

1. Optical and Contact Lens Terminology

2. History of Contact Lens

3. Anatomy of the Eye:

(i) Structure of the Cornea

(ii) Topography

4. Physiology of the Eye:

(i) Conditions

(ii) Lens/Corneal Relationship

(iii) Lacrimal System/Function

(iv) Eyelid/Lens Relationship

5. Pathology of the Eye:

(i) Conditions

(ii) Diseases

6. Chemistry:

(i) Lens Materials

(I) Wettability

(II) Permeability

(ii) Solutions

(iii) Cosmetics

(iv) Medications

7. Basic Science and Fitting of Contact Lens

8. Contact Lens Optics and Application:

(i) Keratometry

(ii) Reflection

(iii) Refraction

(iv) Prism

(v) Aberration

(vi) Magnification

(vii) Radius of Curvature

(viii) Diameter

(ix) Optical Zone

(x) Vault (Sagittal Depth)

(xi) Index of Refraction

(xii) Vertex Distance

9. Hygienic Conditions and Practice

10. Equipment and Instrumentation:

(i) Keratometer

(ii) Biomicroscope (Slit Lamp)

(I) Methods of Illumination - Use of Flourescein

(II) Burton Lamp

(III) Vertometer (Lensometer)

(IV) Radiuscope

(V) Diameter and Thickness Gauge

(VI) Calipers

(VII) Millimeter Rule

(VIII) 7x or 8x Magnifier

(IX) Diopter to Millimeter Conversion Table

(X) Vertex Conversion Table

(XI) Light Source

(XII) Cleaning and Sterilization Equipment

11. Lens Design

12. Fitting Methodology and Theory

13. Indications for Use

14. Contraindications for Use

15. Follow-up Procedures:

(i) Subjective and Objective Findings

(ii) Modification/Adjustment Techniques

16. Complications - Recognition and Referral of Conditions Requiring Medical Attention

17. Inventory Management

18. Industry Standards (Z80 ANSI Standards)

19. State and Federal Laws

20. Physician/Technician Protocol and Responsibilities

21. Other Related Concepts:

(i) Basic Mathematics and Science

(ii) Public Relations

(iii) Sales

(iv) Accounting

(v) Management

(c) It is recommended the work place where the apprenticeship training is taking place have the following minimum equipment:

1. For spectacle dispensing:

(i) One (1) fitting table with two (2) chairs or two (2) stools

(ii) One (1) mirror

(iii) One (1) set of hand tools, including but not limited to, assorted anvils, files, pliers, reamers, screwdrivers, taps and wrenches

(iv) One (1) frame warmer

(v) One (1) Lensometer or Vertometer

(vi) One (1) Pupilometer or other P.D. gauge

(vii) One (1) set of calipers or other thickness gauge (viii) One (1) clock or lens measure

(ix) One (1) penlight

(x) Handstone or other edging equipment to shape lenses

(xi) Polishing and buffing wheel/lathe

(xii) 7 inch rulers marked in millimeters

(xiii) Polariscope

(xiv) Coating Unit

(xv) Dye Facilities

(xvi) Groover

(xvii) One hundred fifty (150) sample frames

(xviii) Current copy of Z-80 ANSI standards of eyewear

(xix) Current copies of Tennessee Law and Rules and Regulations governing dispensing of vision correction devices

2. For contact lens dispensing

(i) Slit Lamp

(ii) Keratometer or Ophthalmometer

(iii) Topogometer

(iv) Burton Lamp

(v) Calipers

(vi) Millimeter Rule

(vii) Lensometer/ Lensmeter

(viii) Radiuscope

(ix) Diameter Gauge

(x) Thickness Gauge

(xi) Hand-held 7x or 8x Magnifier Reticle with Millimeter Rule

(xii) Modification Tools

(xiii) Cleaning and Sterilization Equipment

(xiv) Vertex Conversion Tables

(xv) Diopters to Millimeters Conversion Tables

(xvi) Current copies of Z-80 ANSI Standards

(xvii) Current copies of Tennessee Law and Rules and Regulations governing dispensing of Contact Lenses

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0480-01-.14

Original rule filed August 2, 1995; effective October 16, 1995. Amendment filed June 2, 2004; effective August 16, 2004. Amendment filed October 18, 2005; effective January 1, 2006. Amendment filed April 11, 2007; effective June 25, 2007. Amendment filed March 27, 2009; effective June 10, 2009. Amendments filed April 1, 2015; effective June 30, 2015. Amendments filed June 15, 2022; effective 9/13/2022.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 63-14-101 and 63-14-103.