Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to the Florida Board of Opticianry Help Center – an online tool for applicants, licensees, and the public to search and access our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), contact our office, and learn “how to” do business with the board.

How can I become a board member?

Board members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. You may apply by contacting the
Governor’s Appointment Office,
LL10 The Capitol,
Tallahassee FL 32399-0001;

or by calling (850) 488-2183.

How can I file a complaint against a licensee?

Print the Complaint Form with the Authorization for Release of Patient Records from our Enforcement site or call 1-888-419-3456 or (850)414-1976 to request one by phone. Complete the form and mail it to the address given on the form.

How long does it take to get a response to my public records request?

Five business days.

How can I get a practitioner’s disciplinary history?

You can request a practitioner’s disciplinary history from our Public Records website under Disciplinary Records.

How can I get a list of practitioners by county?

To view a list of actively licensed practitioners, use the License Verification Search and select the county and profession from the drop-down list.

Advice for AOL users.

Users of later versions of AOL may experience problems accessing links within the Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) Services page when inside AOL and using the AOL browser. This is caused by pop-up security features within newer versions of AOL. Try to avoid accessing MQA Services from within AOL.

The way around the problem, once you have started AOL, is to minimize the AOL window and, from your computer’s desktop, open up an Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator browser. Type the url directly on the address line of the browser and press Enter. You will be able to access all the features within the MQA Services page without experiencing problems.

How do I know if this website is secured?

This website is secured using a thawte Digital Certificate. This ensures that all information you send to us via the World Wide Web will be encrypted. Please click on the thawte Trusted Site Seal which demonstrates our commitment to your security. In addition to the thawte Trusted Site Seal, you will also see the “lock” emblem displayed in the browser.

In Internet Explorer 6, the lock emblem can be found in the lower right-hand corner of the status bar.

In Internet Explorer 7.0, the lock emblem can be found next to the address (URL) line.

In FireFox and Netscape, the emblem can be found in both locations.

Is there an additional fee for using a credit card?

No. There is no additional cost for making a credit card payment online.

I’m not receiving a response to my email inquiries?

Verify that you are using the email address: MedicalQualityAssurance@flhealth.gov Also, If you have SPAM blocker on your computer, you will not be able to receive emails from Licensure Services without updating your SPAM blocker to allow emails from the Department.

Please update your SPAM blocker to receive emails from @doh.state.fl.us or contact our Licensure Support Services at (850)-488-0595, for Account ID and Password renewal information.

Why do I receive an error when trying to print my temporary license?

If a PDF file fails to download, shows up blank, or freezes your internet browser, the file was most likely corrupted during the download process. To correct the problem, you will need to first clear your browser’s cache, then close and restart the browser, which entails logging back into MQA Services to continue downloading the document. If the cache is not cleared the cached version of the document, which is likely damaged, will still appear.

How soon after an apprentice completes the required 6,240 hours of an apprenticeship must they apply for the State Board examination?

Apprentices do not have a limited time in which to apply for examinations; they may apply at any time upon the completion of their apprenticeship. (Passing of the ABO and NCLE are required to be considered eligible for the State Board examinations.)

How soon after passing the examination must I pay the initial licensure fee?

The initial licensure fee must be paid within one year of successfully passing the examination. If the required fee is not paid within one year, you must re-apply, re-take, and re-pass the State Board Examination.

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