Section 382-1-5 - Continuing EducationA. Licensed optometrists are required to complete twenty-five (25) hours of approved continuing education per calendar year in order to renew their license. A maximum of two hours in practice management may be applied toward this requirement. At least fifteen (15) hours of continuing education must pertain to the diagnosis and treatment of ocular diseases for those optometrists who hold an advanced therapeutic license.B. Courses offered in the State of Maine sponsored by optometric colleges, or national, state or regional optometric associations are subject to Board approval.C. Courses defined as Category I and approved by: the American Optometric Association; the American Medical Association; the American Academy of Ophthalmologists; the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education; or the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE) will be accepted by the Board without the requirement of prior Board review. Any course not approved by the above listed organization may be submitted to the Board for prior approval. The Board may, in its discretion, approve such courses submitted to it, if the request for approval and pertinent course materials are received by the Board at least thirty (30) days in advance of the date for which the course is scheduled.
D. If there is an increase in the number of continuing education hours required, up to a maximum of the thirty (30) allowed by 32 M.R.S.A. §2426, all licensed optometrists will be notified at the beginning of the year in which the increase becomes effective.