It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 5-35-24 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-35 entitled "Optometrists" is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-35-24. Qualifications of optician applicants -- (a) Every applicant for licensure presents satisfactory evidence in the form of affidavits properly sworn to that he or she:

(1) Is over eighteen (18) years of age;

(2) Is of good moral character;

(3) Has successfully graduated from a high school of a standard approved by the department of education in the state in which the applicant graduated or holds a statement of high school equivalency certified and issued by the department of education in the state in which the applicant obtained the equivalency certificate;

(4) Has graduated from a two (2) year school of opticianry approved by the division department;

(5) Has successfully completed one year of postgraduate internship with a registered optometrist or optician;

(6) Has successfully passed a written examination such as the national opticianry competency examination or any other written examination approved by the division department and the advisory committee;

(7) Has successfully passed a practical examination determined and administered by approved by the department with consultation from the advisory committee for opticianry.

(b) Anyone enrolled in an apprenticeship program prior to January 1, 1995 is exempt from the provisions of this section.

(c) (8) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section and section 5-35-23, any individual who, at the time of his or her application for licensure, is a citizen or legal resident of the United States; submits satisfactory evidence to the division department and advisory committee of successful completion of a two (2) year apprenticeship program; that he or she has previously held a valid license to practice opticianry in another state continuously for at least five (5) years; has practiced as a licensed optician in another state for a period of not less than five (5) years; for at least one (1) year; has practiced opticianry in this or any other state for a period of not less than one (1) year; is in good standing in that state; has previously taken and successfully passed as a prerequisite for licensure in the other state a written examination such as the national opticianry competency examination or any other written examination approved by the division department and the advisory committee and otherwise meets the requirements for licensure with the exception of subdivision (a)(4) of this section; pays to this division department the appropriate fee which accompanies his or her application; is eligible to apply for licensure on condition that he or she first completes the requirements of subdivision (a)(7) of this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.