Code of Massachusetts Regulations 246 CMR - BOARD OF REGISTRATION IN OPTOMETRY
Here’s a detailed overview of 246 CMR – Board of Registration in Optometry:
1. Overview & Scope
246 CMR 1.00 defines the purpose of the regulations: to establish licensure standards, professional conduct, and disciplinary rules for optometrists in Massachusetts (mass.gov).
246 CMR 2.00 covers requirements for licensure, including the use of diagnostic and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents (“TPA”) (mass.gov).
2. Licensure Requirements (246 CMR 2.01)
Applicants via examination must pass a written test on state statutes/regulations (law.cornell.edu).
For reciprocity (endorsement):
Hold a current, unrestricted optometry license from another ARBO-recognized jurisdiction, issued after exam.
Must have practiced continuously for at least 3 years immediately prior.
Jurisdiction’s licensure standards must be equivalent to Massachusetts.
Provide required documentation for reciprocal licensing (mass.gov).
3. Continuing Education (246 CMR 2.01(3))
Licensed optometrists need 18 hours of approved continuing education annually (reddit.com).
Up to 6 hours in specific categories (CPR, child abuse recognition, infection control, practice management, record keeping, legislation, statutes) are allowed, with a maximum of 2 hours in CPR.
A maximum of 6 hours may be earned through distance-based learning (law.cornell.edu).
4. Scope of Practice & Disciplinary Actions (246 CMR 3.00)
a. Equipment & Office Inspections (3.05)
Each optometry office must maintain (at minimum):
Refractor, corneal curvature instrument, lensometer, charts for distance/near vision, tonometer, slit lamp, visual field and color vision devices, sink, etc. (regulations.justia.com).
Offices are subject to unannounced board inspections (regulations.justia.com).
b. Advertising Rules (3.11)
No false, deceptive, or misleading advertising.
Must include practitioner’s name/degree and office addresses.
Electronic ads must be archived for 3 years.
If prices are advertised, they must clearly state what’s included/excluded (regulations.justia.com).
c. Grounds for Discipline (3.15)
Includes fraud in licensure, negligence, incompetence, unlicensed practice, impaired practice, criminal convictions that affect fitness, failure to report child abuse, misuse of devices, and more .
5. Additional Policies (via Mass.gov)
IPL Devices: Optometrists with TPA certification may use Intense Pulsed Light for ocular conditions (not aesthetic purposes), under proper training and board standards (mass.gov).
Telemedicine: Optometrists can provide telehealth services to MA patients if licensed in MA, maintaining the same standard of care, informed consent, and recordkeeping requirements (mass.gov).
Reciprocity Clarified: Confirming requirements around out-of-state licensure renewal, TPA certification, glaucoma-specific CE, and dual licensure (mass.gov).
📋 Summary Table
| Area | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Definitions & Purpose | 246 CMR 1.00: scope & definitions |
| Licensure | Exam-based + written test; Reciprocity: equivalent license, ≥3 years practice |
| TPA Certification | Auto for degrees post-1994; special provisions pre-1994 |
| Continuing Ed | 18 hrs/year, ≤6 hrs restricted topics, ≤6 hrs distance learning |
| Office Equipment | Essential diagnostic tools, subject to inspections |
| Advertising | Must be truthful, transparent, archivable |
| Discipline Grounds | Misconduct, negligence, violation of statutes/regulations |
| Policy Notes | IPL usage, telemedicine, reciprocity, dual licensure clarified |
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