(a) Except as provided in § 20-146a, no person shall produce or reproduce ophthalmic lenses and similar products or mount the same to supporting materials or fit the same by mechanical manipulation, molding techniques or other related functions, unless such person is licensed by the Department of Public Health. Said department may issue license certificates as licensed optician to all persons who lawfully apply for the same, upon their submitting to the department an acceptable written application, and after they have passed examinations as hereinafter provided: Any person shall be admitted to take the examinations for a license to practice as a licensed optician who has satisfied the department that he or she is a person of good professional character, has served as a registered apprentice in this state or any other state for not less than four calendar years’ full-time employment under the supervision of a licensed optician in an optical establishment, office, department, store, shop or laboratory where prescriptions for optical glasses from given formulas have been filled, and has acquired experience in the producing and reproducing of ophthalmic lenses, mounting the same to supporting materials, of which one year, at least, shall have been acquired within the five years last preceding the date of such application and who has acquired experience in the fitting of ophthalmic lenses to the eyes by mechanical manipulation, molding technique or other related functions, of which one year, at least, shall have been acquired within the five years last preceding the date of such application, under the supervision of a licensed optician. Any person who is licensed to perform optical services in any other state or territory with licensure requirements similar to or higher than those required in this state shall be eligible for licensure without examination. Successful completion of a two-year educational program approved by the board with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health may be substituted for the four-year work experience requirement.

(b) All examinations shall be conducted in the English language and shall be written and oral as well as by practical demonstration. The examinations for licensed optician shall include inquiry into the theory and practice of the fundamentals of mechanical and technical knowledge, optics, mathematics, physics, chemistry and physiology as they pertain to the functional knowledge and application of producing and reproducing ophthalmic lenses and the mounting of the same to supporting materials and shall also include further examination into the theory and practice of fitting, adapting and designing of optical glasses from given formulas, or kindred products, to the ultimate wearer by mechanical manipulation, molding techniques or other related functions. Such examinations shall be conducted at least once each year by the Department of Public Health, under the supervision of the board. The examinations shall be prescribed by the department with the advice and consent of the board.

(c) Each licensed optician shall meet such continuing education requirements as the Commissioner of Public Health may establish. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, setting forth continuing education requirements for licensed opticians.