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Our Mission: To protect the health, safety and welfare of Arizona citizens by regulating and achieving the highest standards in the optometry profession.
What We Do: The Board examines, licenses, and regulates the profession of Optometric Doctors (O.D.) in the state of Arizona, as well as regulates out-of-state contact lens dispensers.
Arizona State Board of Optometry
1400 West Washington, Suite# 230
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: (602) 542-3095
The Arizona State Board of Optometry (“Board”) website linked to www.optometry.az.gov (“website”) is the official website of the agency for providing license lookup and license verification information. The website receives and hosts the information directly from the Board database in an electronic manner protected from alteration by unauthorized individuals.
Consistent with JCAHO, NCQA, and other standards for primary source verification, the site is considered a primary source for Board data and is the same information the agency provides through other means such as its IVR system at 602-542-3095, fax, mail or
e-mail and is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. The information is updated daily at 4:30 p.m. and the date of the most recent update is provided at the bottom of each directory page.
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ATTENTION CURRENT LICENSEES: Pursuant to A.R.S. §1-501, you must fill out a Citizenship Verification Form (CVF) when you renew your license.
The form will be sent out with your renewal notice or you may download it here.
You may still renew online but must send the CVF back to the Board office with the required documentation in order for your license to be renewed.
CURRENT LICENSEES:
Latisse (formerly Lumigan) is a drug that received FDA approval in 2008 as a treatment for hypotrichosis of the eyelashes, the condition of having inadequate or not enough eyelashes, and is marketed for both therapeutic and cosmetic purposes.
Arizona therapeutically certified optometrists may prescribe a pharmaceutical agent for the treatment of an abnormal condition of the visual system but not for cosmetic purposes. Therefore, while “hypotrichosis” is a relative term, a licensed optometrist who holds a therapeutic pharmaceutical agents (PA) certificate may prescribe Latisse for a diagnosed condition of hypotrichosis supported by proper documentation in the patient’s record. Doctors holding only a DPA or TPA certificate may not prescribe Latisse.
Do you know about the voluntary Department of Transportation reporting law?
Pursuant to A.R.S. §28-3005, optometrists may voluntarily report a patient (to the Department of Motor Vehicles) who has a medical condition that, in the opinion of the optometrist, could significantly impair the person's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.
The law also states that the optometrist providing the information to the director in good faith is immune from personal liability with respect to the information being provided.
The full text of this statute can be found at the following link: http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/28/03005.htm&Title=28&DocType=ARS
UPDATED RULES: Rules are effective February 2, 2008. You may view the rules under the "AZ Statutes & Rules" link on the left-hand side of this page.
PAY ALL FEES ONLINE!
In addition to renewing licenses online, you may now pay original application fees, original license fees and public information request invoices online using a credit card. Click on the appropriate button on the right!
SB1529 OPTOMETRY-USE OF PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS- Signed by Governor Napolitano on April 16, 2007.
This bill expands the scope of A.R.S. §32-1706, use of antihistamines from the current three specific drugs (Cetirizine, Loratadine. Fexofenadine ) to all antihistamines and includes the following change in language:
2. Antihistamines. A licensee may prescribe an antihistamine for not more than seven days for any one patient for each occurrence. The licensee shall request the patient's primary care physician or other family physician who is licensed pursuant to chapter 13 or 17 of this title to refer the patient. If the patient's condition does not improve during the first seven days of treatment, the licensee shall refer the patient to the patient's primary care physician or other physician licensed pursuant to chapter 13 or 17 of this title. The licensee may prescribe only the following prescription antihistamines:
(a) Cetirizine.
(b) Loratadine.
(c) Fexofenadine.
See final bill here. Law is effective September 19, 2007
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HB2115 PROFESSIONS; DISCIPLINARY ACTION; CONTINUING EDUCATION-Signed by Governor Napolitano on April 16, 2007
This bill affected most of the health regulatory boards including optometry statute A.R.S. §32-1744 by allowing a board to issue a non-disciplinary action to include a requirement of Continuing Education as part of the action. The new language is as follows:
4. Issue a nondisciplinary order requiring the licensee to complete a prescribed number of hours of continuing education in an area or areas prescribed by the board to provide the licensee with the necessary understanding of current developments, skills, procedures or treatment.
This bill will become part of A.R.S. 32-1744 Board investigations; duty to report violations; hearing; decision of board; informal settlement conference.
See final bill here. Law is effective September 19, 2007
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Prescription Disclaimers - Please be aware that pursuant to 16 C.F.R. §456.2(d), it is an unfair act or practice for an ophthalmologist or optometrist to place on the prescription, or require the patient to sign, or deliver to the patient a form or notice waiving or disclaiming the liability or responsibility of the ophthalmologist or optometrist for the accuracy of the eye examination or the accuracy of the ophthalmic goods and services dispensed by another seller.
In addition, under the Optometry Board’s statutes at A.R.S. §32-1743(12), the Board may discipline an optometrist for any violation of any statutes, laws or rules regulating the practice of optometry in this state or any other jurisdiction of the United States.
Signature Stamps-The Board, at its regularly scheduled meeting on November 16, 2006, discussed the issue of handwritten versus rubber-stamped signatures on prescriptions and determined that an optometrist may use a rubber stamp if the name on the stamp is a (real) signature and not a printed name.
If you are using a rubber stamp with a printed name on it in place of the signature, please discontinue this practice and comply with the signature requirement on all prescriptions. This measure is to ensure the validity of the prescription and prevent forgery.
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