DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

(Board of Optometry)

[Filed October 17, 2025, 8:10 a.m., effective November 17, 2025]

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

Purpose: Optometry examination and licensure requirements; correcting RCW citations in WAC 246-851-490.

In 2024, the board of optometry (board) adopted amendments to WAC 246-851-400, 246-851-410, and 246-851-570 through 246-851-600 in response to the statutory changes made by SSB 5389 (chapter 400, Laws of 2023), codified as RCW 18.53.010. The statutory changes inserted two new subsections resulting in the renumbering of the remaining subsections of the law. Three citations in WAC 246-851-490 were affected by the updates to RCW 18.53.010. Because WAC 246-851-490 was open for a different rule-making project at the time, corrections to the citations could not be included as part of the updates to the rule. The purpose of the adopted amendments is to correct the citations to align with the statute now that the original rule project has concluded.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-851-490.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.54.070.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 25-15-095 on July 16, 2025.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: October 17, 2025.

Melissa Dacumos, OD, Chair

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 24-23-045, filed 11/14/24, effective 12/15/24)

WAC 246-851-490Examination and licensure.

To qualify for licensure in this state a candidate must:

(1) Successfully complete Parts I, II, and III of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) examinations; the Part III having been administered and successfully completed after January 1, 1993.

(2) Applicants who completed the NBEO Part II examination prior to January 1, 1993, must successfully complete the International Association of Examiners in Optometry (IAB) examination in treatment and management of ocular disease.

(3) Be a graduate of a state accredited high school or equivalent.

(4) Be a graduate of a school or college of optometry accredited by the Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association and approved by the Washington state board of optometry.

(5) Be of good moral character.

(6) Effective January 1, 2007, all applicants who receive their initial (first) license in Washington state must meet all the certification requirements of RCW 18.53.010 (((2)))(4)(a), (b), (c), and (d).

(((7) Effective January 1, 2009, all optometrists licensed in Washington state must be certified under RCW 18.53.010 (2)(a) and (b).

(8) Effective January 1, 2011, all optometrists licensed in Washington state must be certified under RCW 18.53.010 (2)(a), (b), (c), and (d).))