Iowa Admin. Code r. 645-181.3

Current through Regsiter Vol. 46, No. 26, June 12, 2024

Rule 645-181.3 - [Effective until 6/19/2024] Standards

(1)General criteria. A continuing education activity which meets all of the following criteria is appropriate for continuing education credit if the continuing education activity:

a. Constitutes an organized program of learning which contributes directly to the professional competency of the licensee;

b. Pertains to common subject matters which integrally relate to the practice of the profession;

c. Is conducted by individuals who have specialized education, training and experience by reason of which said individuals should be considered qualified concerning the subject matter of the program. At the time of audit, the board may request the qualifications of presenters;

d. Fulfills stated program goals, objectives, or both; and

e. Provides proof of attendance to licensees in attendance including:

(1) Date, location, course title, presenter(s);

(2) Numbers of program contact hours; and

(3) Certificate of completion or evidence of successful completion of the course provided by the course sponsor.

(2)Specific criteria.

a. Continuing education hours of credit may be obtained by attending:

(1) The continuing education programs of the Iowa Optometric Association, the American Optometric Association, the American Academy of Optometry, and national regional optometric congresses, schools of optometry, all state optometric associations, and the department of ophthalmology of the school of medicine of the University of Iowa;

(2) Postgraduate study through an accredited school or college of optometry;

(3) Meetings or seminars that are approved and certified for optometric continuing education by the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry's Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE) committee; or

(4) Training on child abuse and dependent adult abuse identification and reporting required pursuant to Iowa Code sections 232.69 and 235B.16 and 645-subrule 180.5(4).

Beginning with the July 1, 2006, biennium, therapeutic licensees who provide proof of current CELMO certification meet continuing education requirements for the biennium.

b. The maximum number of hours in each category in each biennium is as follows:

(1) Ten hours of credit for local study group programs that meet the criteria.

(2) Ten hours of credit for correspondence courses, which include written and electronically transmitted material and have a posttest. Certification of the continuing education requirements and of passing the test must be given by the institution providing the continuing education, and that institution must be accredited by a regional or professional accreditation organization which is recognized or approved by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation of the United States Department of Education.

(3) Six hours of credit for practice management courses.

(4) Four hours of credit for dependent adult abuse and child abuse identification.

(5) Twenty hours of credit for postgraduate study courses.

c. Required continuing education hours. Licensees shall provide proof of continuing education in all of the following areas:

(1) Current certification in CPR offered in person by the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross or an equivalent organization. At least two hours per biennium is required but credit will be granted for four hours.

(2) Current CELMO certification. If the licensee does not have current proof of CELMO certification, then the following is required:

1. A combined total of 40 hours required from COPE Category B (Ocular Disease and Management) and COPE Category C (Related Systemic Disease) with a minimum of 14 hours in each category; and

2. Ten additional hours required from any of the COPE Categories of A (Clinical Optometry), B, C and D (Optometric Business Management). Hours obtained in Category D may not exceed 6 hours of the total continuing education hours' requirement.

(3) As a condition of license renewal, a minimum of one hour of continuing education per biennium regarding guidelines for prescribing opioids, including recommendations on limitations on dosages and the length of prescriptions, risk factors for abuse, and nonopioid and nonpharmacologic therapy options. Credit will be granted for up to two hours per biennium. These hours may count toward the continuing education hours required from COPE Category B (Ocular Disease and Management) or COPE Category C (Related Systemic Disease). The licensee shall maintain documentation of these hours, which may be subject to audit. If the continuing education did not cover the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain, the licensee shall read the guideline prior to license renewal. "Opioid" means any drug that produces an agonist effect on opioid receptors and is indicated or used for the treatment of pain.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 645-181.3

ARC 8023B, IAB 7/29/09, effective 9/2/09; ARC 9641B, IAB 7/27/11, effective 8/31/11; ARC 0899C, IAB 8/7/2013, effective 9/11/2013

Amended by IAB February 26, 2020/Volume XLII, Number 18, effective 4/1/2020

Amended by IAB July 1, 2020/Volume XLIII, Number 1, effective 8/5/2020