Applicability of chapter: Inapplicability to certain graduate students participating in an externship or certain persons engaged in residency program; inapplicability to rendering of emergency care at clinic in certain circumstances

1. A student who is enrolled in a graduate course of study in optometry at an accredited school or college of optometry and who is participating in an externship authorized by the school or college, as applicable, as part of that course of study may perform procedures within the scope of a license to practice optometry issued pursuant to this chapter if an optometrist or ophthalmologist licensed in this State: (a) Is physically present at the clinic where the student is performing the procedures at all times while those procedures are being performed; and (b) Examines the person on whom the student performed any procedure before the person is discharged. 2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, a person who has received a degree of doctor of optometry and who is engaged in a residency program for optometry in this State may, without a license, engage in the practice of optometry within the scope of a license to practice optometry issued pursuant to this chapter and examine and manage patients without supervision if an optometrist or ophthalmologist licensed in this State is physically present at the clinic at all times when the person is practicing optometry. 3. A person described in subsection 2 may, in an emergency, provide care to a patient without an optometrist or ophthalmologist licensed in this State being physically present at the clinic if the person consults with an appropriate optometrist or ophthalmologist associated with the clinic to determine the proper care and management of the treatment of the patient. 4. As used in this section, “clinic” means a facility at which a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist provides services to patients.