§ 59-2306. Licensure and registration – Qualifications - Alternative qualification contracts - Licensure and registration without examination.

A.  The State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, with the assistance of the Advisory Committee on Pedorthics, shall establish qualifications for licensure and registration under the Oklahoma Licensed Pedorthists Act.  The Board shall also provide, as set forth herein, an alternative qualification licensure opportunity for current practitioners in this state and for practitioners coming into this state prior to November 1, 2004, who are unable to meet standard qualifications.

B.  To be licensed to practice pedorthics according to standard qualifications, a person shall have passed all examinations required for certification by an entity approved by the Board as a certification organization for licensure purposes.  Once licensed, a pedorthist shall meet continuing education and annual renewal requirements to maintain pedorthic licensure.  The licensed pedorthist shall also adhere to a code of ethics adopted by the Board upon recommendation of the Committee.  Absent another professional certification or credential, a licensed pedorthist shall not diagnose, prescribe, provide prognosis, perform invasive procedures, or make, without a prescription, any custom or customized shoe, device, or modification addressing a medical condition.

C.  To be licensed under alternative qualification a person shall:

1.  Pass an examination, which may be an available examination designated by the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision or an examination developed by the Board; or

2.  Enter into an alternative qualification contract with the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, the conditions of which shall be based on the Board's evaluation of the applicant's experience and the Board's determination of further experience needed or other requirements to be met, which contract shall specify a period of time not to exceed ten (10) years for completion of the further experience or requirements.

D.  Upon execution of the alternative qualification contract, the Board shall issue a license and shall renew the license subject to the licensee’s making satisfactory progress as required by the contract.  Persons who satisfactorily complete the alternative qualification contract shall be thereafter considered as having met the qualification necessary for license renewal.

E.  No person shall be permitted to enter into an alternative qualification contract after October 31, 2004.  A person who has not done so by October 31, 2004, shall not be issued a license to practice pedorthics without meeting standard qualifications.

F.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a person who has practiced full time during the three-year period immediately preceding the effective date of this act in a pedorthic facility as a pedorthist, may file an application with the Board within ninety (90) days from the effective date of this act for permission to continue to practice at his or her identified level of practice.  The Board, after verifying the applicant’s work history and receiving payment of the application fee as established pursuant to this act, shall without examination of the applicant, issue the applicant a license or certificate of registration.  For making investigations necessary to verify the work history, the Board may require that the applicant complete a questionnaire regarding the work history and scope of practice.  The Board shall take no more than six (6) months to make the investigations necessary to verify the work history.  Applicants applying after the ninety-day application period of this subsection has expired, shall meet the qualifications elsewhere set forth for standard or alternative qualification for licensure or for registration as determined by the Board.

Added by Laws 2001, c. 190, § 6, eff. Nov. 1, 2001.  Amended by Laws 2008, c. 149, § 4, emerg. eff. May 12, 2008.