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Association news & legislative updates

From Capitol activity to exam postings and events, the latest from TDOA.

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LicensingAugust 16, 2026

2026 jurisprudence exam: what changed

The questions are unchanged from the 2025 exam. What changed is the deadline and the grading: the exam is not graded, and it must reach the state board office by December 31.

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Tennessee State Capitol
AdvocacyAugust 15, 2026

Board and rulemaking update: spectacle rules, jurisprudence CE, and CE Broker

The Optometry Board takes up cleanup language for the spectacle rules, the Optician Board holds the jurisprudence CE exam at the 2025 version, TDOA presents on scope of practice, and the state moves CE records to CE Broker.

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Attendees at a continuing-education session
EducationJuly 16, 2026

Nashville Chapter Hours set for September 20

A full day of CE at Goodpasture Christian School in Madison on September 20, 2026. Check-in opens at 7:15 AM and class starts at 8:00 AM. Registration is open.

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Chris Milam, Felda Stacey, Leigha Toonk, Theo Morrison and Jane Moore
AdvocacyJune 29, 2026

TDOA's grassroots campaign was a success

Volunteers, emails and phone calls delayed the vote, then carried it. The bill saving the Tennessee Board of Dispensing Opticians was signed by Governor Bill Lee on May 21, 2026.

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Optician
AdvocacySeptember 10, 2025

Association advocates for opticians on new optometry rule changes

TDOA responded on behalf of opticians as the Optometry Board proposed rule changes.

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Eyeglasses to light
Licensing2023

2023 jurisprudence exam posted online

An earlier jurisprudence exam release, archived for reference.

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Tennessee State Capitol
AdvocacyDecember 8, 2020

Committee recommends extending the licensing board five years

The Joint Government Operations Committee passed a non-binding recommendation to extend the TN Board of Dispensing Opticians for five years, while raising questions about the reserve balance and a long-vacant consumer seat.

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Tennessee State Capitol
AdvocacyMarch 6, 2018

Protecting your optical license

The burden to prove a license protects the public falls on licensed opticians. A look at license mobility, the NAOO's petition to the FTC, and what opticians can do about it.

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Tennessee State Capitol
AdvocacyMarch 6, 2018

Legislative update: deregulation reaches the national level

Arizona faces deregulation of its optician license while the NAOO asks the FTC to investigate every state opticianry licensure law. Why involvement in your state organization matters.

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Tennessee State Capitol
AdvocacyNovember 2016

Important legislative alert

A joint message from the NCOA and the State Board.

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Tennessee State Capitol
AdvocacyApril 2016

Message from the NCOA: clarification of upcoming legislative actions

The Joint Legislative Administrative Procedures Oversight Committee hears testimony on consolidating the Board of Opticians into the Board of Optometry.

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Tennessee State Capitol
AdvocacySummer 2015

Sunset review extended to 2021

HB340 and SB221 extended the Tennessee Board of Dispensing Opticians sunset review to June 30, 2021, passing most committees unanimously.

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