(A) It is unlawful for an optician to permit his license to be used by an unlicensed person, and it is unlawful for an unlicensed person to practice or attempt to practice or conduct optician business under the rights and privileges conferred upon another person who is a licensed optician.

(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an optician may delegate tasks to assistants working under his direct supervision. However, under no circumstances may an assistant be allowed to perform a contact lens fitting. Nothing in this section precludes an optician who is supervising an assistant from being absent from the practice for reasonable periods during the working day including, but not limited to, lunch or other customary, practice-related absences; however, no contact lenses may be dispensed during the optician’s absence.

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 40-38-300

  • 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
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