NAC637.140. License required to provide ophthalmic products directly to public; authorized scope of practice of laboratory personnel.

     1. Except as otherwise provided by specific statute, a person who does not hold a license as a dispensing optician, a limited license as a dispensing optician or a license as an apprentice dispensing optician shall not provide any ophthalmic products directly to the public.

     2. Laboratory personnel, including, without limitation, laboratory technicians, shall be deemed not to be engaged in the practice of ophthalmic dispensing and are not required to be licensed pursuant to NRS 637.090 if the laboratory personnel:

     (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, do not perform any of the acts described in subsection 1 or 2 of NRS 637.022; and

     (b) Provide ophthalmic products only and directly to licensed dispensing opticians, licensed ophthalmologists and licensed optometrists.

     3. Without obtaining a license pursuant to this chapter and chapter 637 of NRS, a laboratory technician may perform any act to the fullest extent for which a license is not required pursuant to this chapter and chapter 637 of NRS, including, without limitation, grinding lenses or fabricating eyewear, as described in paragraph (b) of subsection 2 of NRS 637.022.

     4. As used in this section, “ophthalmic products” includes, without limitation:

     (a) Ophthalmic lenses for sunglasses, dive masks, sports goggles and occupational goggles;

     (b) Ophthalmic prescription lenses;

     (c) Ophthalmic devices that have dioptric power and are attached to eyeglasses; and

     (d) All prescription and nonprescription contact lenses, including, without limitation, prepackaged contact lenses, individual contact lenses, cosmetic contact lenses and theatrical contact lenses.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Dispensing Opt. by R042-02, eff. 8-29-2002; A by R108-04, 12-1-2004; R073-12, 6-3-2013)