Audit: Opticians Board Needs Major Changes | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: The author of this post is Barry Smith, who is an associate editor for the Carolina Journal, John Hood Publisher.

Licensing board running out of money; JLF suggests abolition


    RALEIGH — A new audit says that the State Board of Opticians is in financial straits and won't have enough money to continue operating without changes.

    "The board should confer with the General Assembly to evaluate options for continuing services," says the report from State Auditor Beth Wood's office. "Options include increasing fees or consolidating operations with another licensing board to save money."

    Meantime, the John Locke Foundation's head of regulatory studies questions the necessity of continuing to require a state-issued license to practice optometry.

    The report notes that the board had revenues of $160,450 for the period from Feb. 1, 2013 - Jan. 31, 2014. Its expenses for that period were $252,207. The previous five years showed the board with operating losses of between $49,368 to $62,047 annually. It used reserves in its checking account to make ends meet. The reserves are nearly depleted.

    While the licensing board agreed with Wood's recommendation that it seek permission to increase fees, it took issue with the option of merging with another licensing board.

    "We do not believe any cost reduction could be accomplished through economies of scale for this situation because our board is unique wherein many operating costs are fixed, and even variable costs would not likely decrease inside a new board," said Sue Hodgin, board director, in a letter written in response to the audit. "Further, the Board of Opticians has special examination procedures which are tailor-made and cannot be accomplished through uniform testing modules. Such procedures require the expertise of existing staff and board members familiar with the field of opticianry."

    The audit, however, said that combining functions with another licensing board could save overhead and administrative costs. The report noted that the board spends $20,736 in rent and $44,415 for legal and administrative services, excluding the board director's salary.

    It also noted that the board director's position is part time. Combining with another licensing board would at least allow the phone to be answered, the report says.

    Jon Sanders, director of regulatory studies at the John Locke Foundation, offered another option: allowing the board to dissolve.

    "North Carolina is one of only 23 states that requires opticians to obtain state licensure," Sanders said. "That mean that over half the states in the country have not burdened themselves with state licensing of opticians."

    Sanders called occupational licensing an "impediment to economic growth," saying that economists studying licensure liken it to "the medieval guild system, where established service providers use the hurdles of time and money to limit competitors. They are subsequently able to recover higher earnings, but that means consumers face higher costs and would-be entrants are discouraged from getting into the regulated market here."

    He said that North Carolina is one of the more aggressive states when it comes to occupational licensing. For example, crossing the border into South Carolina cuts the number of licensed job categories by more than two-thirds.

    "I have recommended cutting and consolidating licensing boards here to help de-guild North Carolina's economy," Sanders said. "If the majority of states can get by without the licensing of opticians, North Carolina could, too."

    Sanders said that merger with the State Board of Examiners in Optometry would be another option. "Raising fees would be heading in the wrong direction," he said.

    The opticians board licenses and oversees 1,106 licensed opticians who make eyeglasses and lenses in the state. Would-be opticians pay $200 to take the board's exam, $50 for their initial license, and $100 for renewal licenses.

    The board assesses other fees:

  • $200 to license a practitioner from another state to practice in North Carolina.
  • $50 to register an optical place of business.
  • $25 for an opticianry apprentice or intern to apply for a license or renew an expiring one.
  • $25 to register a training establishment.
  • $10 to verify a license.

Go Back


Leave a Guest Comment

Your Name or Alias
Your Email Address ( your email address will not be published)
Enter Your Comment ( no code or urls allowed, text only please )




Governor McCrory Announces Appointments Statewide, Government, State and Federal New Laws Take Effect in 2015 to Lower Taxes, Boost Economy, Support Veterans


HbAD0

Latest State and Federal

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said this week that the only campaign promise President Joe Biden has delivered on as president is the complete dismantling of the U.S. southern border.
Hamas is reeling after losing two of their most cherished leaders on the same day: military commander Saleh al-Arouri, and Harvard President Claudine Gay.
President Joe Biden’s brother told the Internal Revenue Service that Hunter Biden told him he was in business with a “protege of President Xi,” referring to the leader of China, according to notes by an IRS investigator that were divulged during a congressional interview of Jim Biden.
That’s the question Marguerite Roza of Georgetown University’s Edunomics Lab sought to answer in a recent webinar on the topic.
The University of Florida has fired all of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) employees and shut down its DEI office.
Glenn Beck: 'When the United States government can come after individuals, that's when you know our republic is crumbling.'

HbAD1

Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) reportedly blasted Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for “stonewalling” details about the illegal immigrant accused of murdering Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia college student.
“The Biden administration's plan in the Middle East is to hand over power to the Palestinian Authority, which literally pays the families of terrorists who murder Jews.”
Two Democratic members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation are ranked among the most likely to be picked off in 2024, according to a new analysis from Roll Call.
Former President Donald Trump dominated the North Dakota Republican Caucus on Monday as he continues to inch closer to officially securing the party’s presidential nomination.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is launching a Community Partner Engagement Plan to ensure the voices of North Carolina communities and families continue to be at the center of the department’s work.

HbAD2

The Pentagon official helped lead an organization that pushed 'transgender day of visibility' in the military

HbAD3

 
Back to Top