N.J. Admin. Code § 13:33-1.5 - Supervision of apprentice ophthalmic dispensers and technicians

(a) Apprentice ophthalmic dispensers shall dispense ophthalmic appliances, eyeglasses or ophthalmic lenses as set forth in N.J.S.A. 52:17B-41.5, only under the immediate supervision of a licensed ophthalmic dispenser. Apprentice ophthalmic dispensers and technicians may produce, prepare and process ophthalmic lenses only under the immediate supervision of a licensed ophthalmic dispenser or a licensed ophthalmic technician. For the purpose of this subsection "immediate supervision" shall mean that a supervising preceptor shall be in the laboratory or dispensing area with the apprentice at all times during which the apprentice is engaged in apprentice functions.

(b) During an apprenticeship, a supervising preceptor shall be qualified to instruct and train an apprentice in the requisite skills, methods and techniques, so as to assure that an apprentice is competent in producing and reproducing ophthalmic lenses and kindred products and mounting the same to supporting materials. In addition, a preceptor must be qualified to afford training and instruction in the following areas:

1. With regard to ophthalmic dispenser apprentices:

i. Reading and interpreting prescriptions brought to a dispensing establishment and ascertaining the patient's individual needs;

ii. Selection, physical fitting and adjustment of frame in accordance with the patient's prescription and facial contour;

iii. Taking of near and far monocular pupillary distances;

iv. Lenses: grinding, processing, optical and geometric centers, prisms, measurement, base curve, multi-focal, colors (tints), neutralization, transposition, duplication, and insertion;

v. Use of all required equipment pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:33-3.5, including vertometer, lensometer or any other automatic electron equipment to measure the power of a lens, a lens clock and millimeter ruler, hand or automatic protractor for marking up lenses, automatic edger and handfinishing stone; and

vi. Frames: mountings, sizes, measurements and types of temples; and

2. With regard to ophthalmic technician apprentices:

i. Reading and transposition of prescriptions or orders for lenses;

ii. Lenses: grinding, processing, optical and geometric centers, prisms, measurements, base curve, multi-focal, colors (tints), neutralization, transposition, duplication, and insertion;

iii. Use of all required equipment pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:33-3.5, including vertometer, lensometer or any other automatic electronic equipment to measure the power of a lens, a lens clock and millimeter ruler, hand or automatic protractor for marking up lenses, automatic edger and hand-finishing stone; and

iv. Frames: mountings, sizes, measurements and types of temples.

(c) In the event that a preceptor's apprentice fails to establish competence in licensing examinations for reasons attributable to the failure of a preceptor to properly train and instruct such apprentice, the Board, upon notice and affording an opportunity to be heard, may exclude an individual from acting as a preceptor.

(d) A licensed ophthalmic dispenser or licensed ophthalmic technician employed full time at an optical establishment, or a physician or optometrist duly licensed to practice medicine or optometry in the State of New Jersey who is qualified to train apprentices, shall not be permitted to employ, supervise or train more than two registered apprentices at any given time.

(e) A work-study program is defined as that activity, which places students enrolled in the Ophthalmic Science curriculum of any school approved by the National Commission on Accreditation into the optical field on a limited basis under the supervision of a college-approved preceptor for the purpose of gaining college-supervised practical experience. A college-approved preceptor is that individual licensed in New Jersey as an ophthalmic dispenser or ophthalmic technician who meets the conditions established by the college in the development of its work-study program.

1. Where a licensed ophthalmic dispenser or a licensed ophthalmic technician qualifies as a college-approved preceptor in a work-study program, he or she shall be permitted to supervise additionally a maximum of two work-study students who shall be registered with the State Board of Examiners. The work-study time accumulated by students will not be credited to apprenticeship time required by statute to qualify for licensure.

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:33-1.5

As amended, R.1983 d.15, eff. 2/7/1983.
See: 14 N.J.R. 545(a), 15 N.J.R. 157(a).
Added "appliances, eyeglasses or ophthalmic" as set forth in the statute.
As amended, R.1984 d.22, effective 2/6/1984.
See: 15 N.J.R. 1832(a), 16 N.J.R. 248(c).
In (a), added last two sentences and added new (b)-(e).
Amended by R.1995 d.192, effective 4/3/1995.
See: 27 N.J.R. 298(a), 27 N.J.R. 1428(a).
Recodified from N.J.A.C. 13:33-1.3 and amended by R.2005 d.305, effective 9/6/2005.
See: 37 N.J.R. 938(a), 37 N.J.R. 3437(a).
Updated the N.J.A.C. references throughout.
Amended by R.2011 d.074, effective 3/7/2011.
See: 42 N.J.R. 1994(b), 43 N.J.R. 642(a)
In (a), substituted "in the laboratory or dispensing area with the apprentice" for "on the premises" and the second occurrence of "the apprentice" for "an individual"; in the introductory paragraph of (b), inserted a comma following "techniques"; in (b)1v and (b)2iii, deleted "and 3.6" following "N.JA.C. 13:33-3.5" and ", but not limited to," following "including", and inserted "and" at the end; and in (b)1vi, substituted "; and" for a period at the end.