Section R4-21-209. Continuing Education Requirement

A.       A licensee shall complete 32 hours of approved continuing education during each biennial license renewal period. The lic- ensee shall ensure that in each biennial license renewal period:

1.        At least four hours of the approved continuing education is in the area of diagnosis, treatment, and management of disease of the human eye and its adnexa and pharmaceuti- cal use appropriate to the authority held by the licensee;

2.        No more than 12 hours of the approved continuing educa- tion are obtained through self-instructed media;

3.        No more than four hours of the approved continuing edu- cation are in the area of practice management;

4.        No more than one hour of approved continuing education is claimed for each day of instruction in a course of study approved under R4-21-207 to a maximum of four hours; and

5.        No more than four hours of approved continuing educa- tion are claimed for publishing or presenting a paper, report, or book that  deals with current developments, skills, procedures, or treatments related to the practice of the profession of optometry.

B.       If a licensee obtains more than 32 hours of approved continu- ing education during a biennial renewal period, the licensee shall not claim the extra hours of approved continuing educa- tion during a subsequent biennial renewal period.

C.       During the biennial renewal period in which a licensee is first licensed, the licensee shall obtain a prorated number of hours of approved continuing education for each month remaining in the biennial renewal period.

D.       A licensee shall not claim as approved continuing education any educational program or course completed before being licensed.

E.       A licensee shall obtain a certificate or other evidence of atten- dance from the provider of each approved continuing educa- tion attended that includes the following:

1.        Name of the licensee;

2.        License number of the licensee;

3.        Name of the approved continuing education;

4.        Name of the continuing education provider;

5.        Date, time, and location of the approved continuing edu- cation; and

6.        Number of hours of approved continuing education and number of hours relating to practice management.

F.        A licensee shall maintain the certificates or other evidence of attendance described in subsection (E) for three years from the date of attendance.

G.       A licensee shall submit to the Board a copy of the certificates or other evidence of attendance obtained during a biennial renewal period if subject to an audit by the Board under R4- 21-211.

Historical Note

Adopted effective February 7, 1986 (Supp. 86-1). Section R4-21-209 renumbered to R4-21-307 effective April 1, 1991 (Supp. 91-2). New Section R4-21-209 renumbered from R4-21-208 and amended effective November 5, 1998 (Supp. 98-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 11

A.A.R. 1864, effective May 3, 2005 (Supp. 05-2). Former R4-21-209 renumbered to R4-21-212; new R4-21-209 renumbered from R4-21-208 and amended by final rule-

making at 14 A.A.R. 12, effective February 2, 2008

(Supp. 07-4).