FREE Webinar:

Apprentice/Sponsor Orientation

Tuesday May 28th     7:pm to 9:pm EDT

All Florida apprentices are required to attend an approved two-hour Apprentice/Sponsor Orientation course within one year of registering for the program. POF is offering a FREE webinar to all Future Optician Members of POF and to Apprentices that are not a member of POF for only $29, if registered before May 22, 2013.

After May 22, 2013 the cost for the webinar for POF Future Optician members will be $20.00 and cost for apprentices that are non-members will be $45.

By registering and actively participate in this webinar you will fulfill the orientation course requirement. PLUS you will learn the latest information on the apprenticeship program, including the latest C.E. requirements, current deadlines and educational options while in the program. Information on Florida's Apprenticeship program and for the webinar registration link availble at pof.org/apprentice    

With the limited number of spaces that are available during the webinar, the course will be offered on a first-come first-served basis. Sponsors of apprentices can participate on the space available basis so this webinar will NOT be available for CE credit to Florida opticians.

 

Written Rx Looks Different in the Digital Age

 

Phones, televisions and even the written eyeglass Rx look different than they did just 10 years ago. While POF is not able to provide technical support for your smart phone or Wi-Fi connected flat screen, we can provide technical guidance on some of the questions you may have about the recent changes and developments that have affected written eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions.

Here are some frequently asked questions about the new look of the Rx;

Is it illegal to maintain in our files an eyeglass or contact lens Rx written on counterfeit proof pad that has the word VOID or ILLEGAL printed on it?

Can opticians maintain copies of filled eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions electronically in their office instead of the paper version?

Is a prescription that has been digitally signed by the prescriber when no written signature appears is that legally acceptable?

Read POF's responses to these questions on the changin Rx in the digital age.

 

POF.org Named State Website of the Year

Professional Opticians of Florida's www.pof.org  received the honor of being name the 2013 BEST State Association Website in the Nation by the Opticians Association of America at January’s OAA Leadership conference held in Orlando.

POF's website  competed with dozens of other state Association websites and received top honor for excelling in the following catagories: Professional Quality and Appearance, Organization of Information, Readability, Content and Contribution to Opticianry.

POF is dedicated to providing Florida opticians with the most up to date and relevant information for their needs and we welcome encourage your input on how we can improve the site in any other of our services.   

Please let us know how we can serve you better. 

 

 

It is Past Time to Renew your FL License, the Deadline was December 31, 2012

The two year licensing biennium for Florida Licensed Opticians ended December 31, 2012 and new one started January 1st.  The good news is the licensing fee for renewing the next period has been reduced by $25, down to $125 plus the_$5  unlicensed activity fee, for a total of $130, if you had paid by the deadline.  Since the  first of the year you will need to add an additional $150 to the fee for total of $280 for missing the deadline.   

You can still go to www.FLHealthSource.com to renew your licence online or to printout the required form that can be mailed in with your payment.  The Florida Department of Health only sends a post card to all licensees as a renewal notice.  The post card notices where mailed out all opticians in early October their last address of record with the Board office.  If you did not receive a post card in the mail to sure to update your address when you renew.

For additional details on renewing your Florida Opticians License visit POF'sBoard of Opticianry Page.

Great Online CE Hours Available Anytime at pofCE.org

You can earn up to five educational hours to renew your license online right now at pofCE.org with over 12 different CE hours available to choose from, there is something for everyone.
POF makes it easy for you, select the courses you want, read the course material online or take it with you, take the test when you want, you will get instant test results and your C.E. certificate is available to print immediately.

As Always online courses are FREE to POF Members and at a new lower price of $14.97 per hour for non members. Check out these great courses anytime that you want, they are always available - but not for such a low price.

Here are the education courses that are on sale and available on pofCE.org.

Florida State Board Adopts a New Practical Exam

During their quarterly meeting earlier this year, Florida Board of Opticianry voted to adopt a new two part state board exam for initial licensure that will replace the current board exam in February 2012.

The new exam was developed by the National Committee of State Optical Regulatory Boards (NCSORB) based on their years of research and surveys on the required competencies of opticians from member state licensing boards.

One part of the exam will test for competencies and knowledge of optics and dispensing skills and the other on contact lenses and their fitting. Each part of the exam is designed to be two hours in length.  The estimated cost of the exams will be $300 total for both parts of the exam, a significant reduction from the current $870 exam fee.  

The computer based exam will test for multiple skill competencies including the computer simulation of a variety of spectacle and contact lens tasks. 

Understandably, there will be many opticians and others that will be skeptical about the ability to test for opticianry skills virtually.  However, here is what one well respected and long time optical educator, Ed De Gennaro, MEd, ABOM had to say about the NCSORB exam in his May....

Read the whole story on the new State Board Exam on POF.org's Board of Opticianry Page

 

Professional Opticians of Florida is Very Involved in National Opticianry Summit 

POF’s Vice President John Girdler and Executive Director Mark A. Miller actively participated along with over 45 other leaders from across the country in the National Opticianry Summit that took place in early May just outside Washington, D.C. The content of the Summit's discussions, key objectives and work plans are being compiled and we hope to be able to share this information with you within the next month.

In the meantime, you are welcome to review the Summit’s Preliminary Report that includes an event overview, the methodology used for the strategic planning plus a list of the Summit’s participants.

You will also be glad to know that POF members are maintaining a very active role in the development and implementation of the Summit’s strategic initiatives with John Girdler, a member of the Steward Committee that is overseeing the whole project, Mark Miller and Carole Bratteig, Transitions Optical are working on the National Branding Campaign and William Underwood, HCC is involved with the National Standards for Educational and Clinical Competence committee. 

Summit Update for June 2012

The Opticianry Summit Steward Team issued a news release from the June 3^rd meeting that outlines their purpose statements and clarifies the goals and next steps initiatives that will be critical to propelling opticianry forward.   Read the June Steward Team News Release.