Licensing staff briefed the board on operational improvements, changes to online payments, and a testing‑center demonstration meant to reassure the board about exam security and reporting.

Erica, the board’s new licensing administrative manager, reported recent Breeze fixes and feature updates. Staff updated exam naming to match vendor terminology and revised license and renewal certificates to include the board logo and contact email. A reported bug that prevented mobile optometric office permit holders from accessing a report template in Breeze has been fixed.

A new administrative change to payments was announced: the board implemented a 2.3 percent credit‑card service fee for online transactions. Under the new practice, applicants and licensees who pay by credit card will be charged the service fee rather than the board absorbing the cost; staff said the change aligns the board’s practice with Department of Consumer Affairs policy.

Erica and other staff described a visit to a PSI testing center in Sacramento. Department of Consumer Affairs Office of Professional Examination Services staff walked licensing staff through security procedures at check‑in (ID verification, photo or fingerprint, metal detector scans, secure storage for personal items, and test room monitoring). PSI can also generate reports showing pass rates by institution; staff said they were working with PSI to enable those reports for the board.

Members asked about application processing times, and staff highlighted that many license types now issue within days rather than months. Staff said a larger communication effort is needed, because some stakeholders continue to say historical long processing times remain an issue even where the board’s internal metrics show strong performance.

Staff also outlined several upcoming Breeze changes tied to the board’s sunset bill (see separate implementation article): combining registration transactions for nonresident ophthalmic lens dispensers and making email a required application field.