The Board has made every effort to include the information you need to apply for licensure on this website. You can visit our Help Center, FAQs, Continuing Education and Resources page for frequently asked questions, links, forms, applications and other helpful information. If you have additional questions about your renewal process, please contact a renewal specialist.
Click on the appropriate tab below to see the Renewal Requirements, Process, Fees and Continuing Education (CE) for an Optician.
Current licenses expire at midnight, Eastern Time, on December 31, 2024.
To ensure you receive your renewal notification from the department, your current mailing address must be on file. Failure to renew an active or inactive license by the expiration date will result in the license being placed in delinquent status. Failure by a delinquent licensee to renew before the expiration of the current licensure cycle renders the license null and void without any further action by the board or the department.
A licensee who remains on inactive status for more than two consecutive biennial licensure cycles and who wishes to reactivate the license may be required to demonstrate the competency to resume active practice by sitting for a special purpose examination or by completing other reactivation requirements.
Licensees requesting to reactivate their license from inactive or retired status are required to pay additional fees and comply with specific continuing education requirements. Please contact the board office at info@floridasopticianry.gov to request your reactivation requirements.
If you are reactivating your license, please refer to the Laws & Rules governing your practice for additional requirements.
The department will renew your license upon receipt of:
- Completed renewal application
- Required fees
Renewal Instructions:
- Go to www.flhealthsource.gov and click the “Renew A License” button.
- Enter your Personal Identifying Information (PII), then click the Login button.
- Confirm or update your MQA Services Account email address, then click the “Continue” button.
- You are now in the Dashboard. During renewals, a “Renew My License” option will populate no later than 90 days prior to your license expiration date. (Note: If you do not see the “Renew My License” option, please check back at a later time.)
*** If the “PII Failed” screen displays, click the “Other Login Option” button and enter your existing User ID and password to access your account.***
Additional Information:
- You may renew online if you have a credit or debit card to complete the transaction. Please note that you can now renew online, print a copy of your application summary and mail it with your cashier’s check or money order to:
Division of Medical Quality Assurance
P.O. Box 6320
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6320 - If you are renewing your license after the expiration date and your status still indicates Clear/Active, you will be assessed a delinquency fee. The delinquency fee will be in addition to your renewal fees.
- If your license was Delinquent/Active before the renewal deadline, it will be moved to Null and Void status after the renewal deadline. You should contact your board office for further instruction.
- The process of renewing and retrieving an e-license may take 3-5 business days. Initiating contact to confirm the receipt of fees or the status of your license prior to this time will not expedite the renewal process.
Certified check or money order should be made payable to the Florida Department of Health. If renewing BEFORE your license expires, your fees will be:
| Active to Active | $130.00 |
| Inactive to Inactive | $55.00 |
| Active to Inactive | $55.00 |
| Inactive to Active | $330.00 |
| Active to Retired | $55.00 |
| Inactive to Retired | $55.00 |
If renewing AFTER your license expires, your fees will be:
| Active to Active | $255.00 |
| Inactive to Inactive | $180.00 |
| Active to Inactive | $230.00 |
| Inactive to Active | $505.00 |
| Active to Retired | $230.00 |
| Inactive to Retired | $230.00 |
If renewing 120 day Notified Delinquent, your fees will be:
| Active to Active | $385.00 |
| Inactive to Inactive | $235.00 |
| Active to Inactive | $235.00 |
| Inactive to Active | $510.00 |
| Active to Retired | $310.00 |
| Inactive to Retired | $235.00 |
Licenses become Null & Void1 on January 1, 2025. By submitting the appropriate renewal fees to the department, a licensee acknowledges compliance with all requirements for renewal, including continuing education. A licensee who remains on inactive status for more than two consecutive biennial licensure cycles and who wishes to reactivate the license may be required to demonstrate competency to resume active practice by sitting for a special purpose examination or by completing other reactivation requirements.
1Null & Void -The licensed practitioner failed to renew their licensure status for two renewal cycles, resulting in their license expiring.
Continuing Education (CE) Requirements
Within each license renewal biennium, each licensed optician shall complete a minimum of 20 hours of continuing professional education. A maximum of 5 hours of continuing professional education may be earned from courses without classroom instruction, homestudy, or anytime hours.
First Biennium Renewal: Optician licensees licensed within the first year of the biennium renewing a license for the first time must complete 10 hours of approved continuing education, of which a maximum of three (3) hours may be earned from home study or anytime courses. Courses include, five (5) hours related to technical practice of opticianry, one (1) hour of HIV/AIDS education, a two (2) hour course in the prevention of medical error, and two (2) hours of electives from the first two areas above or subjects relating to business management.
Optician licensees licensed within the second year of the biennium are exempt from continuing education requirements for the first renewal except for a two (2) hour course in the prevention of medical error as required by section 456.013(7), Florida Statutes.
To locate board approved CE Courses for this profession, please click here
| REQUIRED SUBJECT AREA | REQUIRED NUMBER OF HOURS | IMPORTANT INFORMATION |
|---|---|---|
| Technical | 11 | Eleven hours must be directly related to the technical practice of Opticianry. If the licensee is board certified, four (4) of these hours must be in technical courses related to contact lens theory and practice. |
| Medical Errors | 2 | This must be a two (2) hour course approved by the Board. |
| Laws and Rules | 2 | This course must include the subject of Federal or Florida laws and administrative rules governing the profession. |
| Electives | 5 | These hours shall consist of courses in one or more of the following type courses: technical, laws and rules, HIV/AIDS, or subjects relating to management of a practice from a business perspective. Two hours per biennium may be earned for attendance at a Board meeting where disciplinary action is taken. For the first renewal only: 1 elective hour must be on HIV/AIDS. |
| TOTAL | 20 |
Board Rule Approved Providers
- All courses must be Board approved. Board approved courses are listed in CEBroker
Helpful Information
- A maximum of five (5) hours may be from home study courses
- All courses must be taken from a Board approved continuing education provider
- Courses from Board approved continuing education providers are listed in CEBroker
Click on Chapter or Section Number to View
Florida Statutes
Chapter 484, Part I, Title XXXII: Preparing and Dispensing of Eyeglasses and Other Optical Devices
Chapter 456: Health Professions and Occupations: General Provisions
Chapter 120: Administrative Procedure Act
Chapter 119: Public Records
Chapter 408: Health Care Administration
Chapter 112: Public Officers and Employees: General Provisions
Florida Administrative Codes
Rules: Chapter 64B12: Board of Opticianry
Rules: Chapter 64B: Division of Medical Quality Assurance, Florida Administrative Code
