Licensing Board and Data Source: Department of State Health Services (DSHS) - Professional Licensing and Certification Unit (PLCU) - The Contact Lens Dispensing Permit Program regulates persons who fill contact lens prescriptions and who dispense contact lenses.
Information regarding the education requirements, licensure requirements, and responsibilities of Contact Lens Dispensers can be found on the website of the Professional Licensing and Certification Unit at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/plc/default.shtm.
Note: The Texas totals do not include the number of active Texas license holders with out-of-state addresses. These numbers can be found on the tables.
Historical Supply Trend Graphs
1998 Contact Lens Dispensers by County of Residence (238) - February 99
1999 Contact Lens Dispensers by County of Residence (267) - November
2000 Contact Lens Dispensers by County of Residence (279) - September
2001 Contact Lens Dispensers by County of Residence (227) - September
2002 Contact Lens Dispensers by County of Residence (138) - November
2003 Contact Lens Dispensers by County of Residence (190) - October
2004 Contact Lens Dispensers by County of Residence (193) - October
2005 Contact Lens Dispensers by County of Practice (196) - September
2006 Contact Lens Dispensers by County of Residence (127) - November
2007 Contact Lens Dispensers by County of Residence (120) - September
2008 Contact Lens Dispensers by County of Residence (115) - September
2009 Contact Lens Dispensers by County of Residence (107) - September
2010 Contact Lens Dispensers by County of Practice (125) - September
2011 Contact Lens Dispensers by County of Practice (120) - September
Note: Many agencies that certify or license health professionals collect only a licensee's mailing address for correspondence purposes. The mailing (RESIDENCE) address may be either the work or home address of the licensee. If available, the HPRC county totals for each profession are based on the PRACTICE address from licensure data, and from the mailing/residence address if the practice address is not available. Therefore, when the mailing/residence address is used, the county supply totals may not accurately reflect the actual supply in a county since a professional may live in one county but practice in another.
Please contact the Health Professions Resource Center at (512) 776-7261 or contact us by email if you have any comments or questions about the above licensing board information or supply tables.