# COMAR Title 10 — Maryland Department of Health

## Subtitle 28 — Board of Examiners in Optometry

### Chapter 08 — Licensure Eligibility: Out-of-State Applicants

**Authority:** Health Occupations Article, §§11-205 and 11-302—11-308, Annotated Code of Maryland

**Administrative History:** Effective date: March 11, 1985 (12:5 Md. R. 483)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .01 repealed and new Regulation .01 adopted effective August 28, 1995 (22:17 Md. R. 1318)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .01A amended effective March 4, 2002 (29:4 Md. R. 417)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .02 amended effective August 28, 1995 (22:17 Md. R. 1318)

**Administrative History:** Chapter revised effective March 26, 2007 (34:6 Md. R. 627)

**Administrative History:** Chapter revised effective July 7, 2025 (52:13 Md. R. 656)

#### Regulation .01 Definition.

*COMAR 10.28.08.01*

A. In this chapter, the following term has the meaning indicated.

B. Term Defined. “Active practice” means practices optometry for at least a total of 500 hours within 3 consecutive years, immediately before applying for licensure.

#### Regulation .02 Application.

*COMAR 10.28.08.02*

A. An applicant for licensure under this chapter shall:

  (1) Complete and submit to the Board an application;

  (2) Pay the application fee required by COMAR 10.28.07.02; and

  (3) Submit proof that the applicant meets the requirements of Health Occupations Article, §11-305, Annotated Code of Maryland.

B. An applicant shall submit the following documentation with the application:

  (1) A copy of a current license from another state;

  (2) An affidavit from the other state licensing board attesting that the applicant became licensed in the other state by passing an examination approved by the board of optometry in that state;

  (3) An affidavit from a colleague, employer, or other source approved by the Board attesting that the applicant has:

    (a) Engaged in active practice immediately before applying for licensure under this chapter; or

    (b) Was a teaching optometrist, a military optometrist, a supervisor or administrative optometrist, or a researcher in optometry for 3 years immediately before applying for licensure under this chapter;

  (4) An affidavit from the other state licensing board attesting that the applicant has met the continuing education requirements for the state in which the applicant has been practicing; and

  (5) Proof of the equivalent of 3 years of continuing education hours as required of optometrists in Maryland in courses approved by the Board if the other state does not require continuing education hours.

#### Regulation .03 Examination.

*COMAR 10.28.08.03*

An approved applicant for licensure under this chapter shall:

A. Be given a Maryland Board of Examiners in Optometry jurisprudence examination; and

B. Obtain a minimum score of 75 percent.