§ 7125. Exemptions. Nothing in this article shall be construed to affect or prevent: a. An unlicensed person from performing merely mechanical work upon inert matter in an optical office, laboratory or shop; or b. A student from engaging in clinical practice, under the supervision of a licensed ophthalmic dispenser or licensed optometrist or licensed physician, in an ophthalmic dispensing school or college registered by the department; or c. The department from issuing a limited permit to an applicant who meets all requirements for admission to the licensing examination; provided, however, that:

(1) Practice under a limited permit shall be under the supervision of a licensed physician, optometrist or ophthalmic dispenser.

(2) A limited permit shall expire after two years, or upon notice to the applicant that the application for licensure has been denied, or ten days after notification to the applicant of failure on the professional licensing examination, whichever shall first occur. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subdivision, if the applicant is waiting the result of a licensing examination at the time such limited permit expires, such permit shall continue to be valid until ten days after notification to the applicant of the results of such examination. A limited permit which has not expired as a result of notice of denial of licensure or of failure on the licensing examination may be renewed for a period of not more than one additional year, upon a showing satisfactory to the department that the applicant could not obtain a license within two years.

(3) Supervision of a permittee by a licensed physician, optometrist or ophthalmic dispenser shall be on-site supervision but not necessarily direct personal supervision.

(4) The fee for each limited permit and for each renewal shall be thirty-five dollars. The fee for issuance of a training permit shall be thirty dollars.