(A) There is created the South Carolina Board of Examiners in Opticianry which consists of seven members. Five members must be licensed opticians appointed by the Governor upon nomination by all licensed opticians in this State through an election conducted by the board. The Governor may reject any or all of those nominated upon satisfactory showing as to the unfitness of those rejected. If the Governor declines to appoint any of the nominees, additional nominees must be elected and submitted in the same manner as the initial nominees. Vacancies must be filled in the manner of the original appointment for the unexpired portion of the term. Two members must be members of the general public who do not derive their income or support from any optical or optical-related business or who are not related to an optician or a person engaged in an optical-related business. The members from the general public may be nominated by an individual, group, or association and appointed by the Governor in accordance with § 40-1-45.

(B) The members of the board serve terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify.

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 40-38-10

  • Optician: means one who prepares and dispenses lenses, spectacles, eyeglasses, and appurtenances to the intended wearers on prescriptions from licensed physicians or optometrists and in accordance with these prescriptions, mechanically interprets, measures, adapts, fits, and adjusts lenses, spectacles, eyeglasses, and appurtenances to the human face for the aid or correction of visual or ocular anomalies of the human eye;

    (2) "Apprentice" means a qualified person registered by the board who is working under the supervision of a licensed optician, optometrist, or ophthalmologist and who is being trained in the practice of opticianry;

    (3) "Board" means the South Carolina Board of Examiners in Opticianry; and

    (4) "Direct supervision" means, with regard to a supervisee, the licensed optician must be on the premises at all times. See South Carolina Code 40-38-20

(C) The Governor may remove a member of the board in accordance with § 1-3-240. No member may be removed without first giving the member an opportunity to refute the charges filed against the member, and the member must be given a copy of the charges at the time they are filed.