Board to publish occupational analysis and exam updates; Breeze changes and online credit-card fee to be implemented
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Summary
Board staff reported that the occupational analysis and ongoing exam-development work will cost about $130,000 this fiscal year and that the occupational analysis is expected in June 2026; Breeze application improvements consolidated optician transactions into a single step and added the home‑residence permit; starting August, online transactions
Board executive staff updated members July 11 on licensing, exam development and online transaction system changes.
Occupational analysis and exam development: Staff reported a contract with the Office of Professional Examination Services (OPES) to complete the mandated occupational analysis (OA) and to support ongoing California law and regulations exam (CLRE) development. The OA for optometry was last done in 2018 and a new OA is expected to be completed by June 2026. Staff presented an estimated total cost for occupational-analysis and exam-development work this fiscal year of about $130,000. The board also noted recent improvements to the CLRE bulletin and a shorter waiting period for repeating the exam (three months between attempts, reduced from six), steps staff said likely contributed to a rise in passage rates (the CLRE pass rate increased this past year from about 80.5% to roughly 90%).
Breeze and service changes: Staff explained that Breeze application pages for optician license types were consolidated so applicants complete one transaction rather than a separate registration step after approval. The home‑residence permit (allowing optometrists to provide unpaid volunteer services to homebound patients) was added to Breeze and may also be applied for at renewal.
Credit-card service fee change: Staff announced a forthcoming change: beginning in August (and in some instances into September), online transactions processed through Breeze will carry a 2.3% credit-card service fee paid by the applicant/licensee rather than being subsidized by the board. The board historically covered those processing costs; in the prior fiscal year staff said the board was budgeted to spend $85,000 on credit-card fees and had spent $61,000 through fiscal month 11. Staff said they will provide notice on the website and listservs and will display the fee at the point of payment.
Ending: Staff will continue to report exam and OA developments at future meetings, and they will provide notices to licensees about the Breeze credit-card service fee change and other system updates.
