NOCE Laws, Regulations, and Standards 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which organization accredits opticianry education programs in the United States?
- NCLE
- JCAHPO
- Commission on Opticianry Accreditation (COA) (Correct answer)
- American Board of Opticianry (ABO)
Correct answer: Commission on Opticianry Accreditation (COA)
The Commission on Opticianry Accreditation (COA) is the national accrediting body for opticianry education programs in the US.
Question 2: The ABO (American Board of Opticianry) certification is best described as:
- A state-issued license required to practice in all 50 states
- A voluntary national certification demonstrating competency (Correct answer)
- A federal credential mandated by the FDA
- A requirement only in unlicensed states
Correct answer: A voluntary national certification demonstrating competency
ABO certification is a voluntary national credential that demonstrates professional competency, though some states accept or require it as part of their licensure process.
Question 3: Under HIPAA's Minimum Necessary Standard, an optical office employee should share a patient's PHI:
- In full whenever another staff member requests it
- Only to the extent needed to accomplish the intended purpose (Correct answer)
- Only after obtaining written consent for each disclosure
- Freely within the office since all staff are covered entities
Correct answer: Only to the extent needed to accomplish the intended purpose
The Minimum Necessary Standard requires that only the least amount of protected health information needed to accomplish a specific task be accessed or disclosed.
Question 4: A patient's frame is under a manufacturer's warranty, but the damage is clearly caused by patient misuse. The optician should:
- Automatically replace the frame at no charge to maintain goodwill
- Submit the claim to the manufacturer as warranty, omitting the cause
- Inform the patient the damage is not covered under warranty and discuss repair or replacement options (Correct answer)
- File a warranty claim and let the manufacturer decide without informing the patient
Correct answer: Inform the patient the damage is not covered under warranty and discuss repair or replacement options
Misuse-related damage typically voids a manufacturer's warranty, and the optician must honestly inform the patient of coverage limits and available options.
Question 5: In states that do not require opticianry licensure, which standard still legally applies to prescription lens dispensing?
- No standards apply — dispensing is entirely unregulated
- FTC Eyeglass Rule and FDA impact-resistance regulations still apply federally (Correct answer)
- Only ANSI Z80.1 voluntary standards apply
- State consumer protection laws are the only applicable rules
Correct answer: FTC Eyeglass Rule and FDA impact-resistance regulations still apply federally
Federal regulations including the FTC Eyeglass Rule and FDA's impact-resistant lens requirement (21 CFR 801.410) apply in all states regardless of whether state licensure exists.
Question 6: An optician notices a prescription has no issue date. Under the FTC Eyeglass Rule, the optician should:
- Fill it since issue date is optional
- Add today's date to the prescription and proceed
- Ask the patient to have the prescriber add the issue date before dispensing (Correct answer)
- Treat it as expired and refuse to fill it
Correct answer: Ask the patient to have the prescriber add the issue date before dispensing
An issue date is a required element of a valid eyeglass prescription under the FTC Eyeglass Rule; the optician should return it to the prescriber for completion.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a state opticianry practice act?
- To regulate the pricing of eyeglasses within the state
- To define the legal scope of practice, licensure requirements, and disciplinary procedures for opticians (Correct answer)
- To establish product quality standards for ophthalmic lenses
- To create certification exams administered by the state
Correct answer: To define the legal scope of practice, licensure requirements, and disciplinary procedures for opticians
A state practice act defines who may legally practice opticianry, what acts are permitted, educational and examination requirements, and how violations are handled.
NOCE Laws, Regulations, and Standards 5
Which organization accredits opticianry education programs in the United States?