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.
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
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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
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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 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:
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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
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