AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- OPTICIANS -- QUALIFICATIONS

HB 7297 creates a new pathway for individuals to become licensed opticians by completing a registered apprenticeship program of at least 4,100 hours over two years, alongside the existing requirement to graduate from an accredited two-year school. The bill also removes the previous mandate that applicants demonstrate "good moral character" and adjusts licensing requirements for those already licensed in other states to include a one-year history of practicing opticianry. These changes allow more people to enter the profession through hands-on training rather than solely through formal education, while maintaining standards for passing national and practical competency exams.