Section 1320.20  Approved Programs of Optometry

a)         The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation-Division of Professional Regulation (Division) shall, upon the recommendation of the Illinois Optometric Licensing and Disciplinary Board (the Board), approve an optometry program if it meets the following minimum criteria:

1)         The educational institution is legally recognized and authorized by the jurisdiction in which it is located to confer the Doctor of Optometry degree.

2)         Has a faculty that comprises a sufficient number of full-time instructors to make certain that the educational obligations to the students are fulfilled.  The faculty must have demonstrated competence in their area of teaching as evidenced by appropriate degrees from professional colleges or institutions.

3)         Has a curriculum of at least the following subject areas:

Basic Science, including Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry

Practical Optics

Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye

Pathology of the Eye

Physiological Optics

Theoretical Optometry

Practical Optometry

Clinical Optometry

Theory and Practice of Contact Lens

Fitting

Pharmacology

Diagnosis, treatment and management of ocular disease and recognition of systemic diseases with ocular symptoms

4)         Has a course of study of 4 academic years above the undergraduate level.

5)         Maintains permanent student records that summarize the credentials for admission, attendance, grades and other records of performance.

b)         In determining whether a school or college should be approved, the Division shall take into consideration but not be bound by accreditation by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE).

c)         Procedures taught in schools and colleges of optometry approved by the Division that are considered for approval in the practice of optometry shall be adopted pursuant to rule or regulation by the Division upon recommendation of the Board.  Before adoption of such rules or regulations, the Board shall first evaluate the procedure in accordance with criteria it has previously adopted.  Furthermore, the Board shall specify training and demonstration of competency required before an optometrist may perform such procedures.  In any event, the Division, upon recommendation of the Board, has determined that surgery, including surgery performed with a laser, is not an optometric procedure.

d)         Program Evaluation

1)         An applicant from an optometry program that has not been evaluated will be requested by the Division to provide documentation concerning the criteria in this Section.

2)         Once the Division has received the documentation or after 6 months have elapsed from the date of application, whichever comes first, the Board will evaluate the program based on all documentation received from the school and any additional information the Division has received which it deems to be reliable.

e)         Withdrawal of Approval

1)         The Director of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation-Division of Professional Regulation (Director) may, upon a written recommendation submitted by the Board, withdraw, suspend or place on probation the approval of an optometry program when the quality of the program has been materially affected by any of the following causes:

A)        Gross or repeated violations of any provision of the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987 [225 ILCS 80] (the Act);

B)        Gross or repeated violations of any of this Part;

C)        Fraud or dishonesty in furnishing documentation for evaluation of the optometry program; or

D)        Failure to continue to meet the established criteria of an approved optometry program as set forth in this Section.

2)         An optometry program whose approval is being reconsidered by the Division shall be given written notice prior to any recommendation by the Board and the officials in charge may either submit written comments or request a hearing before the Board in accordance with 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1110.

(Source:  Amended at 41 Ill. Reg. 11400, effective September 8, 2017)