§ 61-2-9. Licensure by examination; expedited licensure by endorsement

A. An applicant meeting the qualifications set forth in Section 61-2-8 NMSA 1978 for initial licensure shall file an application under oath on forms supplied by the board for an examination by the board. The examination shall be confined to the subjects within the curriculum of colleges of optometry approved and accredited by the board and shall include written tests and practical demonstrations and may include oral tests. A person issued a license by examination shall be issued the license upon payment of required fees.

B. No later than thirty days after an out-of-state licensee files an application for an expedited license, the board shall process the application and issue an expedited license in accordance with Section 61-1-31.1 NMSA 1978 . If the board issues an expedited license to a person whose prior licensing jurisdiction did not require examination, the board may require the person to pass an examination before applying for license renewal.

C. The board by rule shall determine those states and territories of the United States and the District of Columbia from which it will not accept an applicant for expedited licensure and shall determine any foreign countries from which it will accept an applicant for expedited licensure. The board shall post the lists of disapproved and approved licensing jurisdictions on its website. The list of disapproved licensing jurisdictions shall include the specific reasons for disapproval. The lists shall be reviewed annually to determine if amendments to the rule are warranted.