24 Del. Admin. Code § 2100-4.0

Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 5, November 1, 2024

Section 2100-4.0 - Continuing Education Requirements

4.1 Hours Required

4.1.1 Beginning in 2007, the required CE's shall be completed no later than June 30 of every odd-numbered year.

4.1.2 All non-therapeutically-licensed optometrists shall acquire 12 hours of continuing education (CE) during each biennial licensure period.

4.1.3 All therapeutically-licensed optometrists shall acquire 30 hours of continuing education during each biennial licensure period. Twenty of those 30 hours must be comprised of education in the areas of therapeutics and management of ocular disease. A maximum of 6 of the 30 may be in the area of practice management. All therapeutically-licensed optometrists must also maintain current CPR certifications for both children and adults throughout the licensure period.

4.1.4 Any new licensee shall be required to complete continuing education equivalent to 1 hour for each month between the date of licensure and the biennial renewal date. The first 12 hours of pro-rated continuing education must be in the treatment and management of ocular disease.

4.1.5 Hardship Exemption. The Board has the power to waive any part of the CE requirement. Exemptions to the CE requirement may be granted due to prolonged illness or other incapacity. Application for exemption shall be made in writing to the Board by the applicant for renewal and must be received by the Board prior to the end of the license renewal period.

4.2 Content of Mandatory Continuing Education (CE)

4.2.1 Six practice management hours will be accepted toward the continuing education requirement.

4.2.2 COPE-Approved Self-Reported Study

4.2.2.1 Non-therapeutically certified licensees - Of the 12 hour biennial requirement for non-therapeutically certified licensees, a maximum of 2 hours may be fulfilled by self-reported study.

4.2.2.2 Therapeutically certified licensees - Of the 30 hour biennial requirement for therapeutically certified licensees, a maximum of 6 hours may be fulfilled by self-reported study.

4.2.2.3 Self-reported study may include:

4.2.2.3.1 Reading of Optometric journals

4.2.2.3.2 Optometric tape journals

4.2.2.3.3 Optometric audiovisual material

4.2.2.3.4 Other materials given prior approval by the Board

4.2.2.3.5 Proof of completion from the sponsoring agency is required for credit.

4.2.3 Continuing Education courses given by the following organizations will receive credit. CE credit will be given for the scientific session portion only of any meetings of these organizations:

4.2.3.1 American Optometric Association

4.2.3.2 Delaware Optometric Association

4.2.3.3 American Academy of Optometry

4.2.3.4 Recognized state regional or national optometric societies

4.2.3.5 Schools and colleges of Optometry

4.2.3.6 Meetings of other organizations as may be approved by the Board

4.2.3.7 COPE-approved courses

4.3 Failure to Comply with Continuing Education Requirements. Licensees who fail to comply with the required continuing education requirements by the end of the biennial licensing period may be referred for possible disciplinary action pursuant to 24 Del.C. § 2113.

4.4 Proof of continuing education is satisfied with an attestation by the licensee that he or she has satisfied the requirements of Section 4.0.

Licensees selected for random audit will be required to supplement the attestation with attendance verification pursuant to subsection 4.5.

4.5 Random audits will be performed by the Board to ensure compliance with the CE requirements.

4.5.1 The Board will notify licensees within 60 days after June 30 that they have been selected for audit.

4.5.2 Licensees selected for random audit shall be required to submit verification within 10 days of receipt of notification of selection for audit.

4.5.3 Verification shall include such information necessary for the Board to assess whether the course or other activity meets the CE requirements in Section 4.0, which may include the following information:

4.5.3.1 Proof of attendance. While course brochures may be used to verify contact hours, they are not considered to be acceptable proof for use of verification of course attendance;

4.5.3.2 Date of CE course;

4.5.3.3 Instructor of CE course;

4.5.3.4 Sponsor of CE course;

4.5.3.5 Title of CE course;

4.5.3.6 Number of hours of CE course; and

4.5.3.7 Report obtained from the Optometric Education (OE) tracker maintained by ARBO.

4.6 Licensees must maintain all proof of continuing education for at least 2 licensure periods.

4.7 Licensure--Renewal

4.7.1 The biennial licensure period expires on June 30 of every odd-numbered year. Licensees may renew their licenses by submitting a renewal application to the Board by the renewal date with the renewal fee prescribed by the Division of Professional Regulation and attestation of completion of the continuing education requirements.

4.7.2 Licensees who fail to renew their license by the renewal date may reactivate their license during the 1 year period immediately following the license expiration date provided the licensee pays a late fee in addition to the prescribed renewal fee, submits an application on an appropriate form to the Board and provides proof that they have completed the required continuing education.

24 Del. Admin. Code § 2100-4.0

10 DE Reg. 1727 (05/01/07)
19 DE Reg. 204 (9/1/2015)
27 DE Reg. 620 (2/1/2024) (Final)