The Board accepts all COPE approved courses without further Board approval.
To submit a course approval to the Board, print the Application for Continuing Education.
Any courses not COPE approved but approved by this Board are in the minutes under the "Consumer Information" link.
Below are the rules regarding Continuing Education:
R4-21-208. Continuing Education Requirements; Program Criteria and Procedures
A. A licensee shall complete 32 hours of continuing education per biennial license renewal period as follows:
1. The licensee shall have at least four hours in the area of diagnosis, treatment, and management of disease of the human eye and adnexa and pharmaceutical use appropriate to the authority held by the licensee.
2. The licensee shall not claim more than 12 hours by correspondence courses identified as self-instructed continuing education.
3. The licensee shall not claim more than four hours in the area of practice management.
4. The licensee may claim one credit hour of continuing education for each day of instruction in a full-time program approved under R4-21-205, or for less than a full-time program on a pro-rata basis.
5. The licensee shall not carry over hours accumulated from any previous renewal period.
6. A licensee shall not use courses taken before graduation from an accredited optometry school as credit for continuing education requirements.
7. A licensee who is licensed for the first time in the state shall obtain continuing education hours on a pro-rata basis.
B. The Board shall grant a licensee continuing education credit for the following:
1. Participating in an internship, residency, or fellowship at a teaching institution approved by the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, Accreditation Council on Optometric Education, National Board of Examiners in Optometry, or the American Optometric Association;
2. Participating in a medical education program designed to provide understanding of current developments, skills, procedures, or treatments related to the practice of optometry that is provided by an organization or institution accredited by the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry or the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education or approved by the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education, or a national, regional or local Optometric association; and
3. Publishing or presenting a paper, report, or book that deals with current developments, skills, procedures, or treatments related to the practice of Optometry. The licensee may receive one credit hour for each hour preparing, writing, and presenting materials to a maximum of four hours per renewal period.
C. A licensee may apply to the Board for approval of continuing education, not otherwise authorized, by submitting to the Board an application including a description of the program content, instructors and their qualifications, sponsor of the program, if any, conditions of availability, and time and place offered. |
