30 Miss. Code. R. 2901-1.2 - Application process and background checks

(a) The applicant shall make application to the Executive Director, on forms to be furnished by the board. And shall include a photograph for identification purposes.

(b) Such application shall contain references as to good moral character from at least two optometrists licensed by the State of Mississippi and who are actively engaged in the practice of optometry, and in good standing. In the event this is not possible, affidavits from two persons not related to the applicant or to each other, who have known the applicant for at least five years, attesting to the good moral character of the applicant, will be acceptable.

(c) The applicant shall provide primary source verification of passage of all parts the (NBEO) National Board of Examiners of Optometry examination.

(d) The applicant must request that letters of good standing be sent to the state board office for all other states in which they have ever held a license to practice. Any person furnishing false information in such application shall be denied the right to take the examination, or if the applicant has been licensed before it is made known to the board of the falseness of such information, such license shall be subject to suspension, revocation, or cancellation.

(e) Certified copies of the transcript of record from pre-optometry and optometry colleges attended by the applicant shall accompany each application, which certified transcript of record shall show the total number of hours of attendance, the subjects studied, the grades or marks given, and the date of graduation of the applicant. The completed application and examination fee must be filed with the Executive Director not later than 30 days prior to the date of the examination. In the event an applicant intends to retake the examination, the fee therefore and the notice to this intention to retake said examination must also be in the Executive Director's office 30 days prior to the date of the examination.

(f) The fee for taking the initial examination shall be $200 for Mississippi residents and $300 for non-residents. PEP certification will require an additional $750.00 fee

(g) No application fee for examination will be returned to any applicant after the application has been approved by the board, because of the decision of the applicant not to stand for the examination or failure for any reason to take the examination

(h) To conduct a criminal history records, check on licensees whose licensure is subject to investigation by the Board and on applicants for licensure. In order to determine the applicant's or licensee's suitability for licensing, the applicant or licensee shall be fingerprinted. The Board shall be authorized to charge and collect from the applicant or licensee, in addition to all other applicable fees and costs, such amount as may be incurred by the Board in requesting and obtaining state and national criminal history records information on the applicant or licensee.

Notes

30 Miss. Code. R. 2901-1.2

Miss Code Ann. § 73-19-17 73-19-23 (b)

Amended 11/21/2022