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Optometry board rolls out mobile and home‑based programs; lawmakers press on scope, licensing and retail compliance
Summary
The California State Board of Optometry described improved licensing turnaround and new programs for mobile and home‑based vision care. Legislators and stakeholders urged removal of limits on mobile clinics, stronger enforcement against unlicensed retail optical operations and rigorous standards if scope expansions for optometrists proceed.
The California State Board of Optometry told the joint Assembly–Senate sunset hearing that licensing processing times have fallen dramatically and new regulations to permit mobile optometric offices and home‑residence care are now in effect. Lawmakers pressed the board to ensure continuity of care from mobile units, to address unlicensed retail optical operations and to treat any scope expansions with training parity to ophthalmologists.
Board President Jeffrey Garcia and Executive Officer Gregory Pruden said the board reduced licensing turnaround for completed applications from roughly three months to under a week and has reconstituted continuing‑education audits to improve compliance. “Licensing turnaround time for new optometry graduates was sitting at nearly 3 months… now reduced to less…
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