§ 90-115.1.  Acts not constituting the unlawful practice of optometry.

In addition to the exemptions from this Article otherwise existing the following acts or practices shall not constitute the unlawful practice of optometry:

(1) The practice of optometry, in the discharge of their official duties, by optometrists in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States or in the full employ of any agency of the United States.

(2) The teaching of optometry, in optometry schools or colleges operated and conducted in this State and approved by the North Carolina State Board of Examiners in Optometry, by any person or persons licensed to practice optometry anywhere in the United States or in any country, territory or other recognized jurisdiction; provided, however, that such teaching of optometry by any person or persons licensed in any jurisdiction other than a place in the United States must first be approved by the North Carolina State Board of Examiners in Optometry.

(3) The practice of optometry by students enrolled in optometry schools or colleges approved by the North Carolina State Board of Examiners in Optometry when such practice is performed as a part of the student's course of instruction, is under the direct supervision of an optometrist who is either duly licensed in North Carolina or qualified under subdivision (2) above as a teacher, and is conducted in accordance with such rules as may be established for such practice by the North Carolina State Board of Examiners in Optometry. Additionally, the practice of optometry by such students at any location upon patients or inmates of institutions wholly owned or operated by the State of North Carolina or any political subdivision or subdivisions thereof when, in the opinion of the dean of such optometry school or college or his designee, the student's optometric education and experience is adequate therefor, subject to review and approval by the said Board of Examiners in Optometry, and such practice is a part of the course of instruction of such students, is performed under the supervision of a duly licensed optometrist acting as a teacher or instructor and is without remuneration except for expenses and subsistence as defined and permitted by the rules and regulations of said Board of Examiners in Optometry.

(4) The temporary practice of optometry by licensed optometrists of another state or of any territory or country when the same is performed, as clinicians, at meetings or organized optometric societies, associations, colleges or similar optometric organizations, or when such optometrists appear in emergency cases upon the specific call of and in consultation with an optometrist duly licensed to practice in this State.

(5) The practice of optometry by a person who is a graduate of an optometric school or college approved by the North Carolina State Board of Examiners in Optometry and who is not licensed to practice optometry in this State, when such person is the holder of a valid intern permit, or provisional license, issued to him by the North Carolina State Board of Examiners in Optometry pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Article, and when such practice of optometry complies with the conditions of said intern permit, or provisional license.

(6) Any act or acts performed by an optometric assistant or technician to an optometrist licensed to practice in this State when said act or acts are authorized and permitted by and performed in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the Board.

(7) Optometric assisting and related functions as a part of their instructions by optometric assistant students enrolled in a course conducted in this State and approved by the Board, when such functions are performed under the supervision of an optometrist acting as a teacher or instructor who is either duly licensed in North Carolina or qualified for the teaching of optometry pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (2) above. (1975, c. 733; 1989, c. 321; 2011-183, s. 61.)