The Iowa Board of Optometry evaluates the qualifications of applicants for licensure and grants licenses to those who qualify. The board establishes rules and regulations to ensure the integrity and competence of licensed Optometrists and investigates complaints for unprofessional conduct.
The board is the connection between the consumer and the licensed optometrist, as such, promotes the public health, welfare and safety.
Licensees are responsible for meeting all licensure requirements and should review the rules carefully and frequently. Iowa law and rules include detailed information about licensure requirements, renewal, continuing education and other important content specific to this profession.
Laws & Rules
Law
Laws are contained in the Iowa Code. They are enacted by the Iowa Legislature and provide statutory authority to the professional licensure boards.
Rulemaking notices, along with adopted rule changes, are published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin. The preamble for each notice includes a summary of the proposed rule changes. The notice includes information about how to submit public comment when applicable. All comments are forwarded to the board for review prior to making a final decision on the outcome of rule change proposals.
The process for seeking a waiver from an administrative rule and the standards under which the petition will be evaluated are described in Chapter 18.
The Iowa Practitioner Program (IPP) is available to licensees across multiple licensing boards in Iowa. The Iowa Practitioner Review Committee (IPRC) reviews self-reports made by licensees to determine eligibility for participation.
IPP was established in 1996 to support licensees who struggle with impairments due to alcohol or drug abuse, mental health conditions, and/or physical disorders.
The IPRC designs an individualized health contract to meet the needs of the licensee. State law mandates that information in the possession of the IPRC remain confidential. Participation in the program is not a matter of public record.
"Impairment" means an inability to practice with reasonable safety and skill as a result of alcohol or drug abuse, dependency, or addiction, or any mental or physical disorder or disability.
"Self-report" means the licensee providing written or oral notifications to the board that the licensee has received or may receive a diagnosis as having an impairment before the board's receiving a complaint or report alleging an impairment before the date of self-report.
The IPRC determines whether practitioners are eligible to participate in the program monitored by the committee. A person is ineligible to take part in the program for any of the following reasons:
The practitioner engaged in the unlawful diversion or distribution of controlled illegal substances to a third party, or for personal gain or profit;
The practitioner is already under a board order;
The practitioner has caused harm or injury to a patient;
The board is investigating the practitioner that concerns serious matters related to the practitioner's competence;
The practitioner failed to provide truthful information or refused to cooperate with the board or the IPRC; or
The practitioner has been subject to a civil administrative or criminal sanction for serious infractions of law, professional ethics, or administrative rules related to the practice.
Based upon the recommendation of an approved evaluator, the IPRC creates an individualized health contract, which provides a detailed description of the goals of the program, requirements for successful completion, and the practitioner's obligations.
Note: The IPRC may refer to the board participants who are not compliant with the terms of their contract for consideration of disciplinary action.
The chairperson of the board appoints the members of the IPRC. The IPRC includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Executive Director of the board or the director's designee from the board's staff;
A practitioner who has remained free of addiction for two or more years after completing a recovery program for drug or alcohol dependency, addiction, or abuse;
A physician/counselor with expertise in substance abuse/addiction treatment programs;
A psychiatrist or psychologist; and
A public member.
The program encourages practitioners who have impairments to get the help they need. All information received by IPP and IPRC remains confidential as long as the practitioner complies with the terms of their agreement or health contract.
By self-reporting to IPP, the practitioner may avoid formal disciplinary action by the licensing Board. Formal disciplinary action taken against a practitioner is a matter of public record. The board reports the action to the press, the National Practitioners Data Bank (NPDB), insurance companies, and to other state and federal authorities. Participation in the program is confidential.
Health care practitioners must report knowledge of another practitioner's possible impairment to the board. Health care practitioners who fail to report colleagues with a possible impairment may be subject to disciplinary action by the board. It is in the practitioner's best interest to self-report an impairment before someone else files complaint or report.
If any of the following apply to a practitioner, it is in that person's best interest to self-report to IPP as soon as possible:
Charged with, and/or arrested for OWI, or for another alcohol or drug related offense;
Disciplined by another federal or state agency for alcohol or drug abuse;
Evaluated or treated for a substance use disorder, or is currently enrolled in a recovery program;
Diagnosed with a mental health condition and/or a physical health condition;
Practiced after drinking alcohol or taking an illegal or mind/mood altering substance;
Addiction/dependence on drugs, alcohol or prescription medication; and/or
Urged by friend(s), family or colleagues to get help for alcohol or drug abuse, or a mental or physical condtion.
