Board of Optometry Continuing Education

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1. An optometrist certified to use pharmaceutical agents in the practice of optometry shall complete a minimum of 50 hours of continuing education every year in order to maintain pharmaceutical certification. A minimum of 20 hours shall be by participation in formal courses and the remainder by independent study. An optometrist certified to treat glaucoma shall complete a minimum of 10 of the required hours in glaucoma specific education. A minimum of 7 hours shall be by participation in formal courses and 3 hours may be by independent study.
   1. Class I credit hours shall be accumulated through participation in workshops, seminars, conferences, courses, mini courses and related facility based in services.
   2. Class II credit hours shall be earned through independent study documenting the course title, activity, dates of study, content of study and number of hours of Class II continuing education.

Note: Continuing education courses given by the American Academy of Optometry, the American Optometric Association and any state or regional affiliate, or any accredited college of optometry, medicine or pharmacy shall be automatically approved as Class I credits.

Courses offered by sponsors other than those identified above shall be approved for Class I credit only if the Board receives a letter from a licensee of the Board requesting such approval at least 30 days prior to the starting date of the course which requests approval. Requests for approval of such courses shall contain the following information:

1. A description of the sponsoring agency;
2. The title, location and date of the course;
3. A description of all subjects covered by the course;
4. The total hours of study involved in the course and a breakdown of the time devoted to each of the subjects covered by the course;
5. The name(s) and professional qualifications of the instructor(s);
6. A statement that attendees who are present for the entire course shall be given an attendance certificate for license renewal purposes;
7. Whether the course is approved by a current accrediting agency or another state licensing board; and
8. The course syllabus.

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