Section 17-6403. APPLICANTS EDUCATED IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

 

6403.1The Board may grant a license to practice optometry to an applicant who completed an educational program in a educational institution in a foreign country which program is not accredited by the Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association if the applicant meets the following requirements:

 

(a)Meets all requirements of this chapter except for § 6402.1; and

 

(b)Demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Board that the applicant's education and training are substantially equivalent to the requirements of this subtitle and the Act in ensuring that the applicant is qualified to practice optometry by submitting the documentation required by § 6403.2.

 

6403.2An applicant under this section shall, in lieu of meeting the requirements of § 6402.1, submit with the application a certification from a private education evaluation service approved by the Board that the applicant's foreign education is substantially equivalent to the education provided in an accredited program.

 

6403.3The Board may interview an applicant under this section to determine whether the applicant's education or training meets the requirements of the Act and this chapter.

 

6403.4If a document required by this chapter is in a language other than English, an applicant shall arrange for its translation into English by a translation service acceptable to the Board and shall submit a translation signed by the translator attesting to its accuracy.

 

source

Final Rulemaking published at 35 DCR 4494, 4495 (June 17, 1988).