Description
The Alaska Board of Examiners in Optometry has adopted new regulations (12 AAC 48.330) that allow licensed optometrists to delegate certain routine optometric services to non‑licensed agents, provided specific training, supervision, and scope‑of‑practice conditions are met. The rule clarifies which services may be delegated (e.g., standard visual acuity testing, basic refraction) and explicitly prohibits delegation of tasks requiring professional medical judgment, pain management, medication management, or injectable administration. The regulations become effective 30 days after filing, on November 26 2026, and will appear in Register 260, January 2027. This change is intended to increase access to routine eye‑care services while protecting patient safety.
• Effective date: 11/26/2026 (registered Jan 2027)
• Applies statewide to all optometrists licensed under AS 08.72
• Delegable services must be routine, predictable, low‑risk, and performed by trained agents under optometrist supervision
• Prohibited delegations include pain management, medication management, diagnostic assessments, and any service requiring professional judgment
• No additional appropriations required; the rule follows HB 309 amendments to AS 08.72