The Ultimate Guide to Continuing Education For Optometrists

When it comes to continuing education for optometrists there are many resources available to meet your state's requirements.

It can be difficult to know where to obtain continuing education let alone understand what is required for licensure renewal in your state.

Continuing education (CE) is defined by the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO) as the primary method used by optometric regulatory boards to promote the continuing competence of licensed optometrists. The Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE) was created by ARBO to accredit continuing education on behalf of optometric licensing boards. Fifty two licensing boards accept COPE accredited courses toward maintenance of licensure.

The pandemic changed continuing education

While CE credit used to be relatively simple and divided into categories of “live” and “online,” the pandemic revolutionized this approach. In 2020, ARBO modified the rules for obtaining COPE-approved CE after live events were canceled due to the COVID-19 virus. As a result, COPE administrators and providers were allowed to authorize “live” COPE CE credit for events held in an “online interactive” format. Due to continued state restrictions and CDC guidelines, COPE extended the rule modification until December 31, 2021, which validated COPE’s commitment that the quality of education is more important than the location of the course.

COPE Accreditation is based on developing CE activities around optometrists’ educational needs and professional practice gaps in conjunction with assessing outcomes and applying quality improvement measures.

What is online interactive distance learning?

“Online interactive distance learning” is defined by COPE as a course with synchronous learning—meaning the students and instructors are attending at the same time so that students can interact with the instructor.

On October 29, 2021, COPE announced a transition period to determine the next steps for online interactive distance learning that would last until June 30, 2022. During this time, the COPE Governing Committee will complete research, develop a proposal, and collect feedback on proposed format changes to CE credit. Until June 30, 2022, post-course tests will not be required for COPE-Accredited online interactive distance learning courses.

So what does this mean?

At this time, we need to wait until COPE makes a decision about the future designations of CE credit in June. Until then, it’s always a great idea to embrace continuous learning when you can get it as it makes all of us better at what we do. It’s also a perfect time to meet colleagues, discover new mentors, and explore future career opportunities.

Check out your state’s CE requirements!

Costs of continuing education for optometrists

Ultimately, the cost of CE varies dramatically.

Online CE tends to cost around $30/credit hour while live CE tends to cost more money, especially after you have factored in travel and lodging expenses.

Here's my approach to acquire CE as cost effectively as possible:

Understand how many credits of CE you can obtain online per your state's rules and regulations.
Use an online resource that offers CE at an affordable price (Clinical & Refractive Optometry is a great option as well as Review of Optometry) and max those hours out. There are many organizations—including Eyes On Eyecare—that offer events with free COPE-approved CE, as well! (Sometimes these online journals will offer free CE!)
Attend your Local Society meetings and obtain CE. Our local society in Western PA holds 4 meetings a year and generally offers 2-4 credits per meeting. Those add up quickly over the course of 2 years! The best part - it is free for members!
Check out opportunities for continuing education offered by large practices in your area or laser corrective centers. TLC Laser Eye Center holds CE meetings several times a year where you can get live in person COPE-approved CE for next to nothing. Additionally, some ophthalmology groups in my area host CE conferences throughout the year, once again for next to nothing!
Attend one of those big 6 conferences to knock out the remaining CE credit requirements and hang out with your old friends, and make some new ones!

Types of continuing education for optometrists

Online interactive: As the quickest and easiest way to obtain CE, it's easy to understand why online courses are becoming more and more popular. With this being said, many states have a restriction on the number of hours you can obtain online! Below are a few websites to check out for CE that qualifies for COPE "online interactive" credit:

Keep in mind, most optometry schools have online CE available too - check out their websites!

Print: Much more popular before there was the internet, many publications still offer printed CE. One drawback is the time it takes to mail in your answers to the CE quiz (which validates that you actually read the article). Still, next time you're reading your favorite eye care publication, be sure to look between the pages to see if they are offering any free printed CE!

Depending on your state, the restrictions on how many CE hours may be completed online or via correspondence might have changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent COPE changes to CE regulations. Please make sure to check with your state optometry board for details.

NOTE: ARBO has issued a temporary Transition Period until June 30, 2022, in response to the travel restrictions and emergency orders related to COVID-19 and the gradual return of live events.

Live: The traditional option of obtaining CE that often comes with the benefits of an exhibit hall, professional networking, leadership opportunities and much more! Additionally, if you belong to the AOA and your state and local associations, you can get FREE CE at meetings!

Places to get Continuing Education for Optometrists

Below are the Big 6 when it comes to continuing education for optometrists—the conferences and meetings where you will undoubtedly find many of your colleagues.

The Big 6:

1. Eyes On^® events

In the wake of COVID, some new virtual opportunities for CE are on the rise. Chief among them are the Eyes On^® events. The Eyes On events equip ODs with free continuing education, live talks with optometry’s leading experts, sneak peeks at upcoming trends from executive leaders, virtual vendor booths, surprise keynote speakers, and a hefty dose of fun and inspiration.

Themed as forward-looking shows to help optometrists and eyecare professionals anticipate and plan for the coming year, the Eyes On shows feature a best-in-class, COPE-approved educational program with clinical insights and cutting-edge education for today’s optometrist. This year's shows will include Eyes On Dry Eye, Eyes On Glaucoma, and Eyes On 2023.

Eyes On Dry Eye 2022 will be held March 4-6, 2022. Register now to attend!

2. Optometry's Meeting

The 125th Annual AOA Congress & 54th Annual AOSA Conference: Optometry’s Meeting® will be held in Chicago, Illinois, June 15-18, 2022.

Featuring more than 200 accredited hours, education highlights include:

Current Research that You Should Incorporate into Your Mode of Practice Now!
Schools & Colleges of Optometry Alumni Receptions
A Celebration of Optometry at Cardinals Nation
OD Crossfire Series
Interactive Education
Hands-On Workshops
Specialty Education
Poster Sessions and More!

One of the main draws to Optometry's Meeting is access to advocacy through the AOA's House of Delegates. This is known as optometry’s main governing body that has helped lead the advancement of our profession for over a century. It is a major reason why we are still a profession today. We'll see you there!

3. Vision Expo East & Vision Expo West

Held twice a year, the Vision Expo meetings are not to be missed!Vision Expo East will take place March 31-April 3, 2022 in New York, NY while Vision Expo West will be held in Las Vegas, NV, September 14-17, 2022.

The amount of ODs in attendance is amazing, and that demographic continues to include younger and younger ODs. According to Tom Loughran, group vice president of Reed Exhibitions, millennial interest and activity foreshadow the direction in which eyewear, eyecare professionals, and eyecare businesses are headed.

"The millennial population learns, communicates and operates in new ways, and businesses need to consider this. We are in the middle of a digital movement that is captivating to all generations, in an evolution of our overall marketing and customer experience strategies."
--Tom Loughran

4. Academy

Academy 2022 will be held October 26-29, 2022 in San Diego, CA and will feature valuable content, from symposia to posters, workshops, and more. The Academy is known to many as the top meeting for high-quality CE. Held each fall, this meeting had over 300 hours of content offered in 2021.

5. SECO

Each winter, thousands of ODs meet in Atlanta for SECO. This year's meeting from March 9-13, 2022 will include both live and virtual continuing education. Virtual education will include 40 courses and 66 hours of CE over five days, including COPE-approved online interactive courses, and ABO- and NCLE-approved courses for opticians, CL technicians, and AOS paraoptometrics.

6. ARVO

This joint ophthalmology/optometry meeting is held each spring and is known to be where the latest and greatest in eye and vision research is presented. The 2022 meeting will be held live in Denver, Colorado on May 1-4, 2022 and online everywhere from May 11-12, 2022. The theme of the 2022 Annual Meeting speaks to how great challenges in vision science can be overcome by collaboration and free sharing of ideas within interdisciplinary teams. The list of accredited sessions will be posted in April, 2022.

Continuing education for optometrists by state

(Courtesy of ARBO and Reproduced with Permission)

Alabama

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
PHARMACOLOGY or OCULAR DISEASE	10
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 3	Up to 3
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 3	Up to 3
Total Required Hours:	20	14
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	1	1
Other Requirements:

Alaska

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
OCULAR PATHOLOGY or PHARMACOLOGY	Up to 24	Up to 12
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 9	Up to 9
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 3	Up to 3
Total Required Hours:	36	24
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	7 hours of Injection education every 4 years. 8 hours of Use and Prescription of Pharmaceutical Agents every 4 years. Can be included in the 36 hours of CE.

Arizona

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 12
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 4	Up to 4
OCULAR DISEASE or PHARMACOLOGY	4
Total Required Hours:	32	32
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	Other Requirements: Date of renewal is determined by Birth mm/dd. Licensee must renew their license every other year on or before his/her birthday. Licensee may claim one credit hour of continuing education for each day of instruction in a full-time program approved under R4-21-207, or for less than a full-time program on a pro-rata basis. No jurisprudence or practice management courses are accepted that are "state specific" to a state that is not Arizona.

Arkansas

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
JURISPRUDENCE	Up to 1	Up to 1
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 8*	Up to 8*
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 4	Up to 4
Total Required Hours:	20	12
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	1	1
Other Requirements:	Arkansas requires COPE accreditation for all out of state CE courses. *Only 4 hours allowed from magazines.

California

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
OCULAR DISEASE or OCULAR PHARMACOLOGY or GLAUCOMA	35	0
SELF STUDY	Up to 20	Up to 20
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	0	0
Total Required Hours:	50	40
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	As of May 2020, licensees may complete all of their required CE hours using online courses. This change is permanent and does not have an end date. California bases the CE period on the licensee's month of birth. California does not accept Practice Management Courses.

Colorado

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 8	Up to 8
CLINICAL OBSERVATION	Up to 4
Total Required Hours:	24	24
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	One hour of CE credit may be obtained for every two hours of observation at a clinical facility which specializes in eye care that is staffed by professors or adjunct professors from optometry or ophthalmology at accredited optometry or medical schools. Only 4 hours of CE may be earned by this method in each 24-month cycle. Practice management topics or drug companies' sales pitches are not acceptable; study groups are also not acceptable.

Connecticut

CE Requirements for Connecticut

CE Renewal Period for Connecticut : N/A

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 6	Up to 6
INTERNET or CORRESPONDENCE or SELF STUDY	Up to 6	Up to 6
Total Required Hours:	20
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	1	1
Other Requirements:	The Board has provided blanket approval of all courses accredited by COPE: non-COPE courses must be reviewed and approved by the board. A licensee who is actively engaged in the practice of optometry shall earn a minimum of twenty hours of continuing education each registration period. The subject matter for continuing education shall reflect the professional needs of the licensee in order to meet the health care needs of the public, and shall include: Not less than six hours in any of the following areas: Pathology, detection of diabetes and ocular treatment; and not less than six hours in treatment as it applies to the use of ocular agents-T. Coursework shall be provided through direct, live instruction that the licensee physically attends either individually or as part of a group of participants or through a formal home study or distance learning program. Not more than six hours shall be earned through a home study or other distance learning program and not more than six hours shall be in practice management. Qualifying Continuing Education Qualifying continuing education activities include, but are not limited to, courses offered or approved by the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE) of the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry, the American Optometric Association or state or local optometry associations and societies that are affiliated with the American Optometric Association, a hospital or other health care institution, a school or college of optometry or other institution of higher education accredited or recognized by the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education or the American Optometric Association, a state or local health department, or a national, state or local medical association. The Board and the Department of Public Health do not approve continuing education courses, pre-approve specific coursework for individual licensees or maintain a list of continuing education courses. Each licensee applying for license renewal, except a licensee applying for license renewal for the first time, shall sign a statement attesting that he or she has satisfied the continuing education requirements on the annual renewal application.

Delaware

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
SELF REPORTED STUDY	Up to 4*	Up to 2*
CPR	Up to
OCULAR DISEASE or OCULAR PATHOLOGY	Up to 30
Total Required Hours:	30	12
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	No practice management courses will be accepted as satisfying the continuing education requirement. *COPE-Accredited Self-Reported Study may include: Reading of Optometric journals Optometric tape journals. Optometric audiovisual material. Other materials given prior approval by the Board. Proof of completion from the sponsoring agency is required for credit.

Florida

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CEE - OCULAR DISEASE or PHARMACOLOGY or OCULAR PHARMACOLOGY	6
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 2	Up to 2
CPR	Up to 2	Up to 2
JURISPRUDENCE	2*	2*
Total Required Hours:	30	30
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	Florida also requires 2 hours in medical errors and 2 hours in Florida laws and rules. *A licensed practitioner may earn two hours in Florida jurisprudence by attending a meeting of the Board for no less than four (4) continuous hours.

Georgia

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 10*
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 10*
JURISPRUDENCE	1
GRAND ROUNDS	Up to 8*
Total Required Hours:	36
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	Practice management 10 hrs (must be related to patient care) Jurisprudence 1 hr (only 1 hr approved if licensee has multiple hours in this category - not required if licensee is not practicing in GA) Grand rounds up to 8 hrs (1 hr of credit for 2 hrs of work) Total required hours 36 (beginning in the 3rd year of licensing,18 hrs if licensed in the 1st year of the current biennium. No hrs required if licensed in the 2nd year of the biennium) CPR: Current CPR certification is required, no specific number of hours. Not included in the required 36 hours of CE Other requirements: Georgia has Pre-Approved CE courses given by the Schools and Colleges of Optometry, AOA, GOA, any AOA state affiliate, SOPO, SECO, ABO, AAO and any COPE-approved courses. Ophthalmologic courses via the Medical College of Georgia, Emory University, Mercer University and Morehouse College are Pre-Approved with a maximum of 10 hours allowed from these providers per biennium. 18 of the 36 required hours must be in topics related to ophthalmic pharmacology and pathology. Georgia prefers that licensees submit their CE coursework to the ARBO OE TRACKER system. The OE TRACKER system is used to perform biennial audits of CE performance. If the licensee does not use OE TRACKER, he/she must submit evidence of CE performance via paper records in the event of an audit. Licensees should retain CE records for a minimum of 3 years from the date of attendance.

Hawaii

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 9	Up to 8
Total Required Hours:	36	32
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	36 hours of Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease (TMOD) CE is required for TPA certified Optometrists

Idaho

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
PHARMACOLOGY or OCULAR DISEASE	6
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 9	Up to 9
Total Required Hours:	18	12
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	1	1
Other Requirements:	Jursiprudence - Open book exam on Idaho's laws and rules Idaho bases the CE period on the renewal/reinstatement date. Excess continuing education hours, not to exceed 6 hours, accumulated during the 12 months immediately preceding a license renewal may be applied toward meeting the continuing education requirement for the following license renewal. Excess hours may be used only during the next renewal period and may not be carried forward for more than one year. CPR refresher course required every two years 300. CONTINUING EDUCATION IN OPTOMETRY. 01. Hours Required, Advance Approval. a. Until January 1, 2017, each optometrist licensed by the state of Idaho shall attend, in each twelve-month (12) period preceding the renewal of his license, a minimum of twelve (12) full hours of approved optometric continuing education courses or meetings. b. Effective January 1, 2017, each optometrist licensed by the state of Idaho shall attend in each calendar year prior to license renewal, a minimum of twelve (12) full hours of approved optometric continuing education courses or meetings. c. Approved optometric continuing education courses or meetings shall be those post-graduate optometric education courses or meetings approved in advance by the Board of Optometry or post-graduate study sessions or seminars at an accredited school or college of optometry. In addition, all Council on Optometric Practitioners Education (COPE) approved courses are approved for continuing education credit. If an optometrist attends or plans to attend a course of study or seminar which has not been approved in advance, he may petition the Board for approval of that educational course of study, setting forth a description of the course. The Board may, in its discretion, approve the course upon review of the material submitted either in advance or after completion of the course. 02. Additional Hours Required to Use Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents. a. Until January 1, 2017, each optometrist licensed by the state of Idaho to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents shall attend, in each twelve-month (12) period preceding the renewal of his license, a minimum of six (6) additional full hours of approved optometric courses or meetings. b. Effective January 1, 2017, each optometrist licensed by the state of Idaho to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents shall attend in each calendar year prior to license renewal, a minimum of six (6) additional full hours of approved optometric courses or meetings. c. This six (6) hours of continuing education must be in courses involving ocular pharmacology and/ or advanced ocular disease and are in addition to the twelve (12) hours of continuing education required under Subsection 300.01.

Illinois

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CEE	12
CORRESPONDENCE	Up to 4 *
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 4
CPR	Up to 2
Total Required Hours:	30*
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	ALL ILLINOIS OPTOMETRISTS MUST BE ORALS CERTIFIED. Illinois does not license any TPA only or non-DPA optometrists. * Up to 12 hours Verified Teaching of students at an approved Optometry School. All Optometrist must be TPA certified in Illinois to have a licenses. Out-of-State CE must be submitted by licensee for approval unless COPE accredited. Any CE taken in Illinois must be from an Illinois licensed sponsor if to be used to meet renewal requirements. COPE does not apply. CPR is no longer required, but an in-person course can count for 1 hour of regular CE. One (1) hour of sexual harassment prevention training must be taken by all Illinois licensees. Three (3) hours of CE on safely prescribing opioid drugs – applies to all ODs who hold an Illinois controlled substance license.

Indiana

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
PHARMACOLOGY	20	0
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 8	Up to 8
SELF STUDY	Up to 8	Up to 8
Total Required Hours:	40	40
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	Completion of 20 hours for optometry license renewal and 20 hours for optometric legend drug certificate renewal for a total of 40 hours. Of the 20 hours required for the optometry renewal, 2 hours in the areas of medical charting, billing and coding, healthcare compliance or compliance with federal or Indiana state laws or regulations are required. Completion of self-study, correspondence or internet CE is limited to a total of 8 hours of the 40 required for renewal.

Iowa

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
OCULAR DISEASE	20
RELATED SYSTEMIC DISEASE	20
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 10
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 6
CPR
Total Required Hours:	50
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	Proof of current CELMO certification OR a combined total of 40 hours required from COPE Category B and COPE Category C with a minimum of 14 hours in each category;Hours obtained in Category D may not exceed 6 hours of the total continuing education hours requirement. Up to 2 hours in Dependent Adult and Child Abuse Identification. *Current CPR certification offered in person by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or an equivalent organization. At least 2 hours per biennium is required, but credit will be granted for 4 hours.

Kansas

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 8*	Up to 8*
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 4	Up to 4
OCULAR PHARMACOLOGY	5*	5*
Total Required Hours:	48*	48*
Other Requirements:	**CE requirements - 24 credits each year. Kansas optometrists renew every two years. Renewal date is May 31.

Kentucky

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
INTERNET or CORRESPONDENCE	Up to 5	Up to 5
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 2	Up to 2
Total Required Hours:	15 or 20 if ETP Credentialed	8
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	1	1
Other Requirements:	Kentucky accepts COPE accredited courses but only if they are sponsored by a state, regional (multi-state) or national optometric association, accredited school of optometry or accredited school of medicine. Optometrists that are credentialed in Expanded Therapeutic Procedures (ETP) must complete 5 hours of ETP CE annually and none of the hours can be completed via the internet. The 5 hours are part of the 20 hours required to renew licenses annually. All optometrists that have a DEA number, must register with KASPER (KY All Scheduled Prescriptions Electronic Reporting) and take a 2 hour course annually in pain management/addiction disorders. This 2 hour course is part of the overall number of hours required to renew a license.

Louisiana

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 2	Up to 2
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 0	Up to 0
Total Required Hours:	16	12
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	1	1
Other Requirements:	Practice Management courses are not accepted. Certain restrictions apply to COPE hours. Contact the Louisiana Board for more information.

Maine

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
OCULAR DISEASE or OCULAR PHARMACOLOGY or PHARMACOLOGY	15
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 2	Up to 2
Total Required Hours:	25	25
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	1	1
Other Requirements:	Courses offered in the state of Maine sponsored by optometric colleges or national, state, or regional optometric associations are subject to Board approval. Courses defined as Category I and approved by the AOA, AMA, AAO, ACPE or COPE will be accepted by the Board without the requirement of prior Board review. Any course not approved by the above-listed organizations may be submitted to the Board for prior approval. CPR is not required, ODs may claim 2 hours of CE Credit for CPR if the course is approved 30 days prior.

Maryland

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
Total Required Hours:	50	36
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	CHECK WITH MARYLAND STATE BOARD FOR LICENSE RENEWAL DATES. All CE MUST BE EITHER COPE ACCREDITED OR MARYLAND BOARD APPROVED. TPA Certified optometrists are required to complete 50 hours and 30 of those hours must be in the use and management of therapeutic pharmaceutical agents. Current CPR certification is required. DPA Certified optometrists are required to complete 36 hours and 6 of those hours must be in the use of diagnostic pharmaceutical agents. Current CPR certification is required. Non Certified optometrists are required to complete 36 hours. Listed below are the categories of CE, from which licensees can select. THERAPEUTIC AND/ OR DIAGNOSTIC CE CATEGORIES CE Prep and Delivery 12 Hours Clinical Observation 6 Hours Journal/Online CE with a Post Test 20 Hours Pro Bono Work 6 Hours Published Papers 12 Hours GENERAL CE CATEGORIES CPR 3 Hours Ethics 4 Hours Journal/Online CE with a Post Test 20 Hours Practice Management 4 Hours Public Meeting Attendance 4 Hours

Massachusetts

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT or INTERNET	Up to 6	Up to 46
Total Required Hours:	18	18
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	1	1
Other Requirements:	MA allows 6 hours maximum of distance based CE. MA allows 6 hours maximum of practice management (includes AIDS education and CPR). MA requires all in state CE to be MA Board or COPE Accredited. All out of state CE must be COPE Accredited.

Michigan

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 20	Up to 20
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 9	Up to 9
PHARMACOLOGY or OCULAR PHARMACOLOGY	20
Total Required Hours:	40	40
Other Requirements:	CE Renewal Period for Michigan - Two years after the initial license. Please contact the Michigan Board of Optometry for more information. Pain and symptom management: 1 Hour Non-TPA and 1 Hour TPA.

Minnesota

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET		Up to 15
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT		Up to 6
Total Required Hours:		40
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	License renewal period is 1 year. All licenses expire annually on December 31.

Mississippi

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET or SELF STUDY	Up to 4	Up to 4
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 4	Up to 4
OCULAR PHARMACOLOGY	Up to 10
Total Required Hours:	20*	20*
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	1	1
Other Requirements:	*14 of the 20 hours reported must be accredited by COPE. 10 of the 20 hours must be therapeutic.

Missouri

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
INTERNET or CORRESPONDENCE	Up to 16
Total Required Hours:	32	32
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	Starting 11/1/08 Missouri law will require that Optometrists earn 32 hours of Board-approved CE during each reporting period. CE reporting periods will coincide with license renewal periods. All CE hours must be earned from approved sponsors as identified in the Boards rule on Annual License Renewal 20 CSR 2210-2.030. Any hours of Board approved CE acquired beyond the required 32 hours for renewal may be carried forward into the next renewal period not to exceed sixteen 16 hours. Of the thirty-two (32) hours of board approved continuing education required for license renewal, no more than sixteen (16) hours may be obtained through distance learning methods such as correspondence courses, online-only courses, magazine articles, or other methods where the licensee is not physically present with the course speaker or presenter

Montana

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 12	Up to 12
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 4	Up to 4
Total Required Hours:	36	36
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	Montana randomly audits for CE in odd-numbered years.

Nebraska

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 8
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 4	0
CPR	Up to 2	Up to 2
Total Required Hours:	44
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	Optometrists are required to obtain 44 hours of approved continuing education within the 24 month preceding the expiration date. List of acceptable continuing education: State and National meetings Formal education courses related to the practice of Optometry Continuing education courses sponsored by an Optometric college/school Home study courses with testing mechanism: (limited to 8 hours during the 24 month renewal period) examples include, but are not limited to, professional journal articles, the profession related Internet courses, CD/ROM courses, videotape courses, and audiotape courses. CPR certification or re-certification (limited to two hours during the 24 month renewal period) Practice management courses (limited to four hours during the 24-month renewal period) Examples of non-acceptable subject matter include, but are not limited to, practice management programs and education provided by a business entity for the purpose of promotion of their products or services. The Nebraska Board of Optometry only accepts CE credits which meet the criteria for acceptable continuing education programs as outlined in section 004 of Title 172 NAC 120 Regulations Governing the Practice of Optometry.

Nevada

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
OCULAR DISEASE	Up to 15
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 5	Up to 5
Total Required Hours:	30	18
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	1	1
Other Requirements:

New Hampshire

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
OCULAR DISEASE	20
GLAUCOMA	10
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 3	Up to 3
Total Required Hours:	50	15
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	1	1
Other Requirements:	Ocular Disease: TPA 20 hours Class I, remainder Class II. Total hours Non-TPA=15 Class I. Class I credit hours shall be accumulated through participation in workshops, seminars, conferences, courses, mini-courses and related facility based in services. Class II credit hours shall be earned through independent study. NOTE: Attendance Slips for Class I continuing education and Activity Lists for Class II continuing education will be subject to annual random audits by the Board of Registration in Optometry documenting the course title, activity, dates of study, content of study and number of hours of Class II continuing education.

New Jersey

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 20	Up to 20
OCULAR DISEASE or PHARMACOLOGY or TMOD	30
Total Required Hours:	50	50
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	Ocular Disease, Pharmacology courses: 20 hours Topical TPA, 10 hours Oral TPA.

New Mexico

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
OCULAR DISEASE	10	10
INTERNET		Up to 2
Total Required Hours:	22	22
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	1	1
Other Requirements:	New Mexico requires all courses to be COPE accredited. For exceptions, see NMAC Continuing Education Rules (16.16.13.9). 16.16.13.8 CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: A minimum of twenty-two (22) clock hours of optometry related, board approved continuing education or postgraduate programs, are required for license renewal each year beginning July 1, as detailed below. A. The continuing education shall be submitted as follows: (1) at least ten (10) of the twenty-two (22) hours of continuing education must be in a board approved program in clinical or ocular therapeutic pharmacology; and (2) at least one (1) of the twenty-two (22) hours of continuing education must be in a board approved course in pain management or related topic pursuant to 16.16.25.11 NMAC. This requirement shall begin with the 2015 renewal period beginning July 2, 2014. B. For optometrists on inactive status holding ocular therapeutics certification, a minimum of ten (10) hours of continuing education in a board approved program in clinical or ocular therapeutic pharmacology is required. C. The continuing education must have been taken within the preceding renewal period (i.e. July 2 of one year through June 30 of the next). D. The board may audit any licensee�s continuing education documentation for the current licensing year and the two (2) previous years. E. A licensee who receives a notice of audit shall submit to the board office on or before July 1, unless otherwise specified, evidence of continuing education hours for the requested period. F. A license will be placed on expired status if the licensee fails to meet the continuing education requirements for renewal by the expiration date stated in this rule. G. Reactivation of license expired due to non-renewal for failure to meet the continuing education requirement. The licensee may apply for license reactivation in the same manner as provided in Part 11 of 16.16 NMAC. The continuing education and fees will be calculated based on the number of years the license was expired due to non-renewal for failure to meet the continuing education requirement. H. Newly licensed optometrists who graduated from optometry school within the same year of licensure may submit the completed curriculum of their last year of optometry school to meet their continuing education requirement the first year of renewal. 16.16.10.12 RENEWAL APPLICATION: A. A completed license renewal application, verification of continuing education, a current CPR certification and applicable renewal fee must be received in the board office on or before July 1 of every year. The CPR course shall show a current certification attesting to completion of a CPR course offered by the American red cross, the American heart association, or the American safety and health institute (ASHI). The course cannot be a self-study. CPR is not considered continuing education. B. The board may audit any licensee�s continuing education documentation for the current licensing year and the two (2) previous years.

New York

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
OCULAR DISEASE or PHARMACOLOGY	36
LIVE	27
Total Required Hours:	36
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	3
Other Requirements:	Continuing education for licensed optometrists certified to use phase one and/or phase two therapeutic pharmaceutical agents. A: As used in this section, acceptable accrediting agency shall mean an organization accepted by the department as a reliable authority for the purpose of accreditation at the post secondary level, applying its criteria for granting accreditation in a fair, consistent and nondiscriminatory manner, such as an agency recognized for this purpose by the United States Department of Education. B. Mandatory continuing education requirement. General requirements: During each triennial registration period, meaning a registration period of three years duration, an applicant for registration shall complete at least 36 hours of formal continuing education acceptable to the department as defined in paragraph (2) of this subdivision. At least three-quarters of such continuing education in a registration period shall consist of live in-person instruction in a formal course of study. Up to one-quarter of such continuing education in a registration period may consist of live instruction in a formal course of study offered through audio, audio-visual, written, on-line, and other media, during which the student must be able to communicate and interact with the instructor. Proration. During each registration or certification period of less than three years duration, an applicant shall complete acceptable continuing education, as defined in paragraph (2) of this subdivision, on a prorated basis at the rate of one hour of continuing education per month for such registration period. Acceptable continuing education. To be acceptable to the department, continuing education shall be: in the area of ocular disease and pharmacology and may include both didactic and clinical components; and approved by the department pursuant to subdivision (g) of this section. Live courses are those in which you are able to interact with the instructor. For example: a live lecture; a webinar, a telecourse or teleconference in which you and the instructor can speak directly with each other; a course in which you and other practitioners discuss a taped presentation with a facilitator's assistance; a computerized course in which you are able to interact directly with the instructor

North Carolina

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 6
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 4
GRAND ROUNDS
Total Required Hours:	25*
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	1	1
Other Requirements:	*Of the 25-hour requirement, a minimum of 15 hours must be "certified"; i.e. the subject is in the fields of ocular and general pharmacology, diagnosis and therapeutics, or advanced clinical procedures. A maximum of 6 hours of correspondence/internet courses and 4 hours of practice management courses is allowed annually. All courses must meet be approved by COPE or the ACCME.

North Dakota

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
OCULAR DISEASE or PHARMACOLOGY	25
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 12	Up to 12
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 12	Up to 12
Total Required Hours:	50	50
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	3	3
Other Requirements:

Ohio

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
PHARMACOLOGY	10	10
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 10	Up to 10
GRAND ROUNDS or SURGERY OBSERVATION	Up to 8	Up to 8
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT or JURISPRUDENCE	Up to 2	Up to 2
Total Required Hours:	25	25
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	1	1
Other Requirements:	Effective 10/1/11 Ohio will allow up to 2 hours of practice management or ethics jurisprudence per C.E. period.

Oklahoma

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 6	Up to 6
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 3	Up to 3
JUDICIOUS PRESCRIBING	1	1
Total Required Hours:	25	25
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	1	1
Other Requirements:	Continuing Education Requirements: All Oklahoma licensed optometrists are required to obtain twenty-five (25) hours of continuing education annually. Included in the twenty-five (25) hours are a maximum of three (3) Practice Management hours, and a maximum of six (6) Remote Learning hours (which includes internet hours), and a minimum of one (1) Judicious Prescribing hour. Approved Vendor's List: 1) Optometry College accredited by the American Optometric Council on Education 2) American Optometric Association, or an affiliate of the American Optometric Association 3) College of Optometrists in Vision Development 4) Annual convention of the American Optometric Association 5) Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians 6) Great Western Council of Optometry (GWCO) 7) Heart of America Contact Lens Society 8) American Academy of Optometry (AAO), or any affiliate of the AAO 9) State Optometric Associations of the United States Any Optometrist desiring approval of any other program must make a written request for approval to the Secretary-Treasurer at least fifteen (15) days before he or she attends such program.

Oregon

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 18	Up to 18
OCULAR DISEASE	9+	9+
JURISPRUDENCE	0	0
Total Required Hours:	18	18
Other Requirements:	License renewal due 1st day of birth month renewed yearly. License expires on the last day of birth month. License year begins on first day of following month. One hour of 'ethics' or "Oregon Law & Administrative Rules" due every other year. A minimum of 9 Ocular Disease hours are required every year. No Practice Management or COPE Jurisprudence is accepted. Ethics courses must be approved by the Oregon Board.

Pennsylvania

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 7.5	Up to 7.5
TEACHING or PUBLICATION	Up to 7.5	Up to 7.5
Total Required Hours:	30	30
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	The Board will not accept courses of study which do not relate to the actual practice of optometry, such as studies in office management and financial procedures. Licensed for diagnostics only "P" license: Must take 30 hours of continuing education.(This also applies to "L" Licenses.) Licensed for therapeutics only "T" license: Must take 30 hours of continuing education at least 6 hours must be in therapeutics. *Licensed for therapeutics and glaucoma "G" license: Must take 30 hours continuing education. At least 4 hours must be in glaucoma, and at least an additional 2 hours must be TPA. If you are a new licensee who graduated from optometry school during your first biennial renewal period, you are exempt from continuing education requirements for your first renewal period. ACT 31 OF 2014 INITIAL TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION IN CHILD ABUSE RECOGNITION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS The Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA), in conjunction with the Department of Human Services (DHS), is providing advance notice to all health-related licensees and funeral directors that are considered "mandatory reporters" under section 6311 of the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) (23 P.S. 6311), as amended, that EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015, all persons applying for issuance of an initial license shall be required to complete 3 hours of DHS-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of licensure. Additionally EFFECTIVE WITH THE FIRST LICENSE RENEWAL AFTER JANUARY 1, 2015, all health-related licensees and funeral directors applying for the renewal of a license issued by the Board shall be required to complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of renewal. Please note that Act 31 applies to all health-related licensees, regardless of whether they are subject to the continuing education requirements of the applicable board. Section 9.1(a)(2) of The Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescriptions Program Act (ABC-MAP) requires that optometrists licensed for Therapeutics or Therapeutics and Glaucoma complete at least two hours of continuing education in pain management, the identification of addiction or the practices of prescribing or dispensing of opioids. The continuing education requirements of ABC-MAP will count towards the total number of continuing education credits required for renewal; however, they may not be applied toward the 6 hours required to maintain therapeutic certification. This continuing education must be taken from a Board-approved optometry continuing education provider listed in Section 23.86(a) of the Board's regulations.

Rhode Island

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
OCULAR DISEASE or PHARMACOLOGY	10*
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
Total Required Hours:	20*	16*
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	1	1
Other Requirements:	*For current CE requirements, please refer to the Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Optometrists by going to sos.ri.gov, click "state rules and regulations" and type in the keyword "OPTOMETRISTS."

South Carolina

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
PHARMACOLOGY or OCULAR PATHOLOGY	16
PRIVATE OPHTHALMIC/OPT GROUPS	8
Total Required Hours:	40	40
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	32 hours must be from courses sponsored by national, regional or state optometric organizations, optometry schools or medical schools.

South Dakota

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 4**	Up to 4**
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 4***	Up to 4***
Total Required Hours:	45*	45*
Other Requirements:	Educational requirements for license renewal consist of 45 hours every three years beginning the date the license is issued. 5 hours per year must be TPA (no more than 2 can be self-directed learning). In the 3 year period: Practice Management-No more than 4 hours. *Correspondence/Internet-No more than 4 Hours Surgical Ophthalmologist Observation-1 hour for every 2 hours with a maximum of 4 hours Video/Recorded Webinars/Teleconference-2 hours maximum Live Webinars-must state "live" on certificate-4 hours maximum

Tennessee

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
OCULAR DISEASE or PHARMACOLOGY or OCULAR PATHOLOGY	20
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 12
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 6
Total Required Hours:	30	30
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	Each licensee shall maintain current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Such certification shall be obtained from a course approved or offered by the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, or any other entity approved by the board. For those who are therapeutically certified, a minimum of twenty (20) of the thirty (30) hours of continuing education is required in courses pertaining to ocular disease and related systemic disease, as described in subparagraph (2)(c). At least two (2) of these twenty (20) hours shall be a course designed specifically to address prescribing practices. Continuing education courses may include: lecture type courses; multi-media courses (must be submitted to the Board for review and are limited to a maximum of twelve (12) credit hours); grand clinical rounds (clinical optometric education performed in clinical treatment facilities shall be credited for every two (2) hours of attendance will receive one (1) hour of credit and must be submitted for Board review and are limited to a maximum of six (6) credit hours during the two (2) year cycle). Each licensee must retain proof of attendance and completion of all continuing education requirements. This documentation must be retained for a period of four (4) years from the end of the calendar year in which the continuing education was obtained.

Texas

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
OCULAR DISEASE or PHARMACOLOGY	6	6
LIVE or LIVE WEBINAR	16	16
Total Required Hours:	32	32
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	Beginning with license renewals for 2021, the Board’s database will divide licensees into two groups in order to stagger license renewals. Group 1 will receive a two year license. Group 2 will renew for a one year 2021 license and then for two years the following year. Below are the requirements for licensees renewing for two years: Of the 32 hours, 25 must be in Diagnosis or Treatment of Ocular Disease, 2 hours Professional Responsibility, 2 hours Controlled Substances Course (if TG), 1 hour Human Trafficking, 2 Opioids CE if the doctor prescribes opioids.

Utah

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
Total Required Hours:	30	30
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	30 hours of COPE or optometry-related courses approved by Council on Medical Education (CME). Any provider that has a controlled substance will need to obtain 4 hours of opioid specific education through one of the division approved course. These hours are within the 30 required hours and are not an additional amount of total hours.

Vermont

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CORRESPONDENCE	Up to 2	Up to 2
OCULAR DISEASE or OCULAR PHARMACOLOGY or PHARMACOLOGY	20
Total Required Hours:	40	20
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:

Virginia

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
PHARMACOLOGY	Up to 10
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 10	Up to 10
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	2	2
CPR	Up to 2	Up to 2
Total Required Hours:	20	20
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	1	1
Other Requirements:	As of 1/1/19, VA licensees will now renew each year on March 31. There will be no renewal in 2019. The next renewal will be 3/31/20. 54.1-3219. Continuing Education. A. As a prerequisite to renewal of a license or reinstatement of a license, each optometrist shall be required to complete 20 hours of continuing education relating to optometry, as approved by the Board, each year. A licensee who completes more than 20 hours of continuing education in a year shall be allowed to carry forward up to 10 hours of continuing education for the next annual renewal cycle. The courses shall include, but need not be limited to, the utilization and application of new techniques, scientific and clinical advances, and new achievements of research. The Board shall prescribe criteria for approval of courses of study. The Board may approve alternative courses upon timely application of any licensee. Fulfillment of education requirements shall be certified to the Board upon a form provided by the Board and shall be submitted by each licensed optometrist at the time he applies to the Board for the renewal of his license. The Board may waive individual requirements in cases of certified illness or undue hardship. B. Of the 20 hours of continuing education relating to optometry required pursuant to subsection A: 1. At least 10 hours shall be obtained through real-time, interactive activities, including in-person or electronic presentations, provided that during the course of the presentation, the licensee and the lecturer may communicate with one another; 2. No more than two hours may consist of courses related to record,keeping, including coding for diagnostic and treatment devices and procedures or the management of an optometry practice, provided that such courses are not primarily for the purpose of augmenting the licensee's income or promoting the sale of specific instruments or products; and 3. For TPA-certified optometrists, at least 10 hours shall be in the areas of ocular and general pharmacology, diagnosis and treatment of the human eye and its adnexa, including treatment with new pharmaceutical agents, or new or advanced clinical devices, techniques, modalities, or procedures. C. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent or limit the authority of the Board to require additional hours or types of continuing education as part or in lieu of disciplinary action. The changes to the regulations will become effective on September 21, 2016, and are the following: A. Each license renewal shall be conditioned upon submission of evidence to the board of 20 hours of continuing education taken by the applicant during the previous license period. A licensee who completes more than 20 hours of continuing education in a year shall be allowed to carry forward up to 10 hours of continuing education for the next annual renewal cycle. 1. The 20 hours may include up to two hours of record keeping for patient care including coding for diagnostic and treatment devices and procedures or the management of an optometry practice, provided that such courses are not primarily for the purpose of augmenting the licensee's income or promoting the sale of specific instruments or products. 2. For optometrists who are certified in the use of therapeutic pharmaceutical agents, at least 10 of the required continuing education hours shall be in the areas of ocular and general pharmacology, diagnosis and treatment of the human eye and its adnexa, including treatment with new pharmaceutical agents, or new or advanced clinical devices, techniques, modalities, or procedures. 3. At least 10 hours shall be obtained through real-time, interactive activities, including in-person or electronic presentations, provided that during the course of the presentation, the licensee and the lecturer may communicate with one another. 4. A licensee may also include up to two hours of training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). B. Each licensee shall attest to fulfillment of continuing education hours on the required annual renewal form. All continuing education shall be completed prior to December 31 unless an extension or waiver has been granted by the Continuing Education Committee. A request for an extension or waiver shall be received prior to December 31 of each year. C. All continuing education courses shall be offered by an approved sponsor or accrediting body listed in subsection G of this section. Courses that are not approved by a board-recognized sponsor in advance shall not be accepted for continuing education credit. For those courses that have a post-test requirement, credit will only be given if the optometrist receives a passing grade as indicated on the certificate. D. Licensees shall maintain continuing education documentation for a period of not less than three years. A random audit of licensees may be conducted by the board which will require that the licensee provide evidence substantiating participation in required continuing education courses within 14 days of the renewal date. E. Documentation of hours shall clearly indicate the name of the continuing education provider and its affiliation with an approved sponsor or accrediting body as listed in subsection G of this section. Documents that do not have the required information shall not be accepted by the board for determining compliance. Correspondence courses shall be credited according to the date on which the post-test was graded as indicated on the continuing education certificate. F. A licensee shall be exempt from the continuing competency requirements for the first renewal following the date of initial licensure by examination in Virginia. G. An approved continuing education course or program, whether offered by correspondence, electronically or in person, shall be sponsored, accredited, or approved by one of the following: 1. The American Optometric Association and its constituent organizations. 2. Regional optometric organizations. 3. State optometric associations and their affiliate local societies. 4. Accredited colleges and universities providing optometric or medical courses. 5. The American Academy of Optometry and its affiliate organizations. 6. The American Academy of Ophthalmology and its affiliate organizations. 7. The Virginia Academy of Optometry. 8. Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (C.O.P.E.). 9. State or federal governmental agencies. 10. College of Optometrists in Vision Development. 11. The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education of the American Medical Association for Category 1 credit. 12. Providers of training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). 13. Optometric Extension Program. H. In order to maintain approval for continuing education courses, providers or sponsors shall: 1. Provide a certificate of attendance that shows the date, location, presenter or lecturer, content hours of the course and contact information of the provider or sponsor for verification. The certificate of attendance shall be based on verification by the sponsor of the attendee's presence throughout the course, either provided by a post-test or by a designated monitor. 2. Maintain documentation about the course and attendance for at least three years following its completion. I. Falsifying the attestation of compliance with continuing education on a renewal form or failure to comply with continuing education requirements may subject a licensee to disciplinary action by the board, consistent with 54.1-3215 of the Code of Virginia.

Washington

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 25
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 10
Total Required Hours:	50
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	O Optometrists must renew their licenses each year on or before their birthday. (1) Licensed optometrists must complete fifty hours of continuing education every two years as required in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 7. (2) In lieu of this requirement, licensees practicing solely outside of Washington may meet the continuing education requirements of the state or territory in which they practice. HIV/AIDS training - 4hrs, and a Jurisprudence questionnaire are required for initial Licensure

West Virginia

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
OCULAR DISEASE or PHARMACOLOGY	12	12
CORRESPONDENCE or INTERNET	Up to 10	Up to 10
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 6	Up to 6
Total Required Hours:	43	43
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	Every licensee must have: At least 12 hours of CE in pharmacology or therapeutics, No more than 6 hours in practice management, No more than 10 hours by Internet or correspondence. Every licensee must complete the Drug Diversion Requirement. Each licensee who prescribes controlled substances must take a 3-hour course in Drug Diversion and Best Practices Prescribing available from the WVAOP every 2 years. The licensee who does not prescribe controlled substances has one of two choices to meet the Drug Diversion Requirement: Take the Drug Diversion Course for 3 hours of CE credit; Sign a waiver stating the he has not prescribed a controlled substance during the CE period. Please be aware that there is no CE credit for signing the waiver. Injection Certified CE The licensee who holds injection certification (IOD or IOD1) must take at least 2 hours of CE in administering injections. The injection certified licensee must keep his CPR from the American Heart Association or the Red Cross up to date. Pre-Approved Sponsors for WV CE Credit All CE must be sponsored or approved by the following organizations: The American Optometric Association or its affiliated organizations, The WV Association of Optometric Physicians or other state AOA organizations, The Academy of Optometry, Post-graduate courses offered by accredited optometry schools, SECO, Approved by COPE. The Board may approve courses not sponsored or approved by the above organizations using the pre-approval process outlined in 14-10-6. Check with the Board regarding any course that is not sponsored or approved by the list above before taking the course.

Wisconsin

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
Total Required Hours:	30	30
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	All optometrists are required to complete 30 hours of CE from approved sources in each biennial registration period. A minimum of 7 of the 30 hours must be in glaucoma education. CE shall relate to the diagnosis and management of eye disease. Those authorized to use DPA and TPA may also take CE related courses to removal of superficial foreign bodies from the eye or an appendage to the eye. No more than 6 hours total per biennium may be claimed for courses related to contact lens, functional vision, general optometry, low vision, jurisprudence and practice management. courses in relevant content areas accredited by COPE or sponsored by a state optometric association, the AOA, the AAO or an accredited school or college of optometry are approved without application to the Board. Other providers may apply to the Board for approval.

Wyoming

Requirement	TPA	NON-TPA
SYSTEMIC THERAPIES	15	15
INTERNET	Up to 6	Up to 6
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT	Up to 6	Up to 6
Total Required Hours:	40	40
Timeframe (in years) for CE Requirements:	2	2
Other Requirements:	CEU Biennial, Licenses renewal is Annual. Accepted CE providers: AOA & affiliates, AAO, OEP, schools/colleges of Optometry, COPE Accredited CE and Board Approved CE. Continuing education hours cannot be completed by correspondence.

Have any other tips or tricks for meeting your state's CE needs? Let us know in the comments!

About Antonio Chirumbolo, OD

Antonio Chirumbolo, OD is the Director of Client Services at CovalentCreative. He completed his optometry degree at the SUNY College of Optometry in 2013. Antonio is passionate about digital media, marketing, and advertising and in his free time still practices …

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