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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
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Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0186*
SENATE BILL 186
J2 6lr0895
(PRE–FILED) CF HB 380
By: Senator Augustine
Requested: September 18, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Reassigned: Finance, January 16, 2026
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 7, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
State Board of Examiners in Optometry – Examination Requirements and Time 2
Period for Inactive Status 3
FOR the purpose of clarifying that applicants for licensure as an optometrist and certain 4
applicants for reinstatement are required to pass all sections of each part of a 5
licensure examination; repealing the requirement that the State Board of Examiners 6
in Optometry give examinations to licensure applicants; repealing the requirement 7
that a licensure applicant pay to the Board a reexamination fee set by the Board for 8
each reexamination; prohibiting the Board from placing a licensee on inactive status 9
for more than a certain period of time; and generally relating to the State Board of 10
Examiners in Optometry. 11
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Health Occupations 13
Section 11–302(e), 11–304, 11–305, and 11–310 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18
Article – Health Occupations 19
2 SENATE BILL 186
11–302. 1
(e) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, the applicant shall pass ALL 2
SECTIONS OF EACH PART OF an examination [given] AS REQUIRED by the Board under 3
this subtitle. 4
11–304. 5
(a) An applicant who otherwise qualifies for a license is entitled to be examined 6
as provided in this section. 7
[(b) Periodically, but not more often than once every 6 months, the Board shall 8
give examinations to applicants at the times and places that the Board determines. 9
(c) The Board shall notify each qual ified applicant of the time and place of 10
examination.] 11
[(d)] (B) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the Board shall 12
determine the subjects, scope, form, and passing [score for examinations administered ] 13
SCORES FOR ALL SECTIONS OF EACH PART OF AN EXAMINATION under this subtitle. 14
(2) The subjects examined shall include: 15
(i) The anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the human eye; and 16
(ii) The use of all instruments used for examination of the human 17
eye. 18
(3) The examination ma y include any subject that relates to optics and 19
optometry: 20
(i) Contained in any textbook; or 21
(ii) Taught at any accredited educational institution that teaches 22
optics, optometry, and other related subjects. 23
[(e)] (C) [(1)] An applicant who fails the examination may take the next 24
regularly scheduled examination. 25
[(2) The applicant shall pay to the Board a reexamination fee set by the 26
Board for each reexamination.] 27
11–305. 28
SENATE BILL 186 3
(a) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Board may waive the examination 1
requirements of this title for an individual who is licensed to practice optometry in any 2
other state. 3
(b) The Board may grant a waiver under this section only if the applicant: 4
(1) Pays the application fee required by the Board under § 1 1–303 of this 5
subtitle; 6
(2) Provides adequate evidence that the applicant: 7
(i) Meets the qualifications otherwise required by this title, 8
including, for 3 years before applying, the continuing education requirements of the other 9
state in which the a pplicant has been practicing optometry, or, if the other state does not 10
have any continuing education requirement, the applicant shall meet the equivalent of 3 11
years of the continuing education requirements of this subtitle in courses approved by the 12
Board; 13
(ii) Meets the terms and conditions that the Board establishes in 14
subsections (c) and (d) of this section; 15
(iii) At the time the applicant was licensed in the other state, was 16
qualified to take the examination that then was required by the laws of this State; and 17
(iv) Qualified for a license in the other state by passing an 18
examination given by the board of optometry in that state; 19
(3) Presents a copy of the license, certified by the issuing board; and 20
(4) Has not failed an examination [given] REQUIRED by the Board within 21
the previous 5 years. 22
(c) (1) The Board may waive the examination requirements of this subtitle for 23
an applicant who: 24
(i) If so required by the Board under subsection (d) of this section, 25
passes an examination [administered] REQUIRED by the Board; and 26
(ii) For 3 years immediately before applying, has practiced 27
optometry actively. 28
(2) The Board may waive the requirement of practicing optometry actively 29
for an applicant who for 3 years: 30
(i) Was teaching optometry; 31
(ii) Was a uniformed services optometrist; 32
4 SENATE BILL 186
(iii) Was a supervisor or administrative optometrist; or 1
(iv) Was a researcher in optometry. 2
(d) (1) Within 1 year of receipt of an application, the Board may require that 3
the applicant pass an examination. 4
(2) The Board shall determine the scope, form, and passing score for 5
examinations under this section. 6
11–310. 7
(a) (1) The Board shall place a licensee on inactive status, if the licensee 8
submits to the Board: 9
(i) An application for inactive status on the form required by the 10
Board; and 11
(ii) The inactive status fee set by the Board. 12
(2) THE BOARD MAY NOT PLACE A LICENSEE ON INACTIVE STATUS 13
FOR MORE THAN 6 CONSECUTIVE YEARS. 14
[(2)] (3) The Board shall issue a license to an individual who is on inactive 15
status if the individual: 16
(i) Meets any continuing education requirements set by the Board; 17
and 18
(ii) Pays to the Board the reinstatement fee set by the Board. 19
(b) The Board may reinstate the license of an optometrist whose license has been 20
expired for less than 5 years and who has not been put on inactive status, if the optometrist: 21
(1) Has met the continuing education requirements set by the Board; 22
(2) Meets the renewal requirements of § 11–308 of this subtitle; and 23
(3) Pays to the Board the reinstatement fee set by the Board. 24
(c) The Board may not reinstate the license of an optometrist whose license has 25
been expired for 5 years or more and who has not been put on inactive status, unless the 26
optometrist: 27
SENATE BILL 186 5
(1) Passes ALL SECTIONS OF EACH PART OF an examination 1
[administered] AS REQUIRED by the Board; and 2
(2) Otherwise meets the requirements of subsection (b) of this section. 3
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 4
1, 2026. 5
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.