(a) CE Requirements for Renewal. As a condition for renewal, each licensee shall complete a total of forty (40) hours of CE.
(b) Timeframe for Earning CE for Renewal. - (i) The first renewal period begins on January 1st following the date their license was issued. Following the first renewal period, if the license was issued in an even year the licensee shall submit twenty (20) hours of CE. If the license was issued in an odd year the licensee shall submit forty (40) hours of CE.
- (ii) CE will be required following the first renewal period and each two (2) calendar years thereafter.
- (iii) Only those CE acquired during the CE reporting period will be considered. Duplicate courses taken during a CE reporting period will not be accepted.
(c) The Board shall approve courses related to the practice of optometry offered by the following: - (i) COPE qualified or COPE sponsored;
- (iii) AOA recognized state associations;
- (iv) American Academy of Optometry;
- (v) Schools and colleges of optometry;
- (vi) College of Visual Development; and
- (vii) Optometric Extension Program and clinical facilities specializing in eye care that are staffed by professors or adjunct professors of optometry or ophthalmology at accredited optometry or medical schools.
- (viii) Other courses may be submitted to the Board Office for pre-approval.
(d) Composition of CE. - (i) Licensees authorized to prescribe therapeutic pharmaceuticals shall obtain fifteen (15) hours of the required forty (40) hours of CE in topics addressing ocular systemic therapeusis.
- (ii) A maximum of six (6) hours of CE in the area of practice management may be applied towards the required forty (40) hours.
- (iii) A combined maximum of ten (10) hours of COPE qualified CE through the Internet or correspondence may be applied towards the required forty (40) hours.
- (iv) One (1) CE may be earned during each renewal period for passing the Board's jurisprudence examination.
(e) Reporting Requirements. - (i) Licensees shall report their CE through the OE Tracker program.
- (ii) Licensees shall be able to furnish copies of any certificates of attendance, letters certifying attendance, transcripts, or any other official documents that serve as proof of CE participation or attendance for at least two (2) years from the date submitted for renewal.
- (iii) Proof of attendance shall contain the activity title, date(s), contact hours attended, sponsor, presenter, name of licensee and be signed by the sponsor or the presenter.
- (iv) All CE must be posted on the OE Tracker website no later than December 31 of the renewing biennium year. CE posted after December 31 will be assessed a late fee.
(f) Auditing. - (i) CE may be audited by the Board for verification of compliance with these requirements and the Board may disallow any course not meeting the intended CE criteria.
- (ii) If the Board disallows any CE hours as a result of an audit, the licensee shall have until March 31 following the CE period to:
- (A) Provide further evidence that the disallowed CE hours meet the criteria established by these rules;
- (B) Provide evidence of having completed appropriate CE during the required time frame, which may substitute for the disallowance; or
- (C) Remedy the disallowance by completing the number of additional CE hours necessary to fulfill the requirements. These additional CE hours shall not be reported on subsequent applications for license renewal.
- (iii) Failure to provide the documents requested for audit within thirty (30) days of the date of the request may subject the licensee to disciplinary action.
(g) Waiver. The Board may grant a waiver for CE requirements for licensees who have petitioned and demonstrated just cause based on extenuating circumstances.
(h) Volunteer Certificate Holders shall complete twenty (20) hours of CE per year. If the Volunteer Certificate Holder is therapeutically authorized eight (8) hours shall address systemic ocular therapeusis.