45:12-9.9 Credentialing requirements.
7. The New Jersey State Board of Optometrists shall establish the credentialing requirements which shall be fulfilled before a person may be certified to use or prescribe pharmaceutical agents for treatment purposes in the practice of optometry. In addition, the board shall establish continuing education requirements for the renewal of certification for the use and prescription of pharmaceutical agents for treatment purposes in the practice of optometry. No licensee shall be tested by the board for certification to use or prescribe pharmaceutical agents for treatment purposes in the practice of optometry before having first satisfactorily completed all educational requirements in ocular pharmacology at a school duly accredited by the United States Department of Education and the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation. These educational standards shall be no less than that required of currently enrolled students as part of their requirements for graduation from that school. This credentialing and certification process shall be required of all persons seeking to utilize pharmaceutical agents for treatment purposes in the practice of optometry regardless of licensure either prior or subsequent to the effective date of P.L.1991, c.385 (C.45:12-9.8 et seq.); except that licensees shall be immediately certified at their current level of practice and those licensees currently certified to use and prescribe pharmaceutical agents for treatment purposes pursuant to P.L.1991, c.385 (C.45:12-9.8 et seq.) shall be immediately credentialed and certified to use and prescribe those pharmaceutical agents authorized by that act for treatment purposes in the practice of optometry but not orally until certified, except for injections to counter anaphylactic reactions.
The board shall maintain a list of all approved credentialing courses, which list shall be made available upon request to licensees or other interested persons. Upon receipt of verification of satisfactory completion of an approved credentialing course of study, the board shall certify the optometrist applicant as certified in the use and prescription of those pharmaceutical agents.
L.1991,c.385,s.7; amended 2004, c.115, s.3.