Continuing Education Requirements
NEW STATUTORY PROVISION - JULY 1, 2006
MERGE OF OPTOMETRIC LEGEND DRUG PRESCRIPTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH THE INDIANA OPTOMETRY BOARD
As of July 1, 2006, the Optometric Legend Drug Prescription Advisory Committee (OLDPAC) no longer exists. The Optometric Legend Drug statute and rules were merged into Optometry Statute, IC 25-24, and Optometry Administrative Rules, Title 852. Any function of the OLDPAC Committee is now done under the Optometry Board.
NEW ADMINISTRATIVE RULES - SEPTEMBER 7, 2006
OPTOMETRY CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENT
- As of September 7, 2006, the amount of continuing education to renew an optometry license was changed from thirty (30) hours to twenty (20) hours.
- The rule that stipulated that ten (10) hours of optometric legend drug continuing education would apply towards the renewal of a license was eliminated from the administrative rules and no longer applies.
- To renew an optometry license a practitioner will need to complete twenty (20) hours of optometry continuing education biennially.
- To renew an optometric legend drug certificate you will need to complete twenty (20) hours of optometric legend drug continuing education biennially.
OPTOMETRY LICENSE
Optometrists are required to have completed twenty (20) hours of optometry continuing education to renew their optometry license acquired after April 1, 2006.
If a new license was issued between April 1, 2006 and April 1, 2007 then you are required to complete ten (10) hours of continuing education.
If a new license was issued after April 1, 2007 then you are not required to complete continuing education for this renewal period.
OPTOMETRIC LEGEND DRUG CERTIFICATE
Optometrists are required to have completed twenty (20) hours of optometric legend drug continuing education to renew their optometric legend drug certificate acquired after April 1, 2006.
If a new Optometric Legend Drug certificate was issued between April 1, 2006 and April 1, 2007 then you are required to complete ten (10) hours of continuing education.
If a new Optometric Legend Drug certificate was issued after April 1, 2007 then you are not All Optometrist whose licenses and optometric legend drug certificate expire on April 1, 2008 must have completed continuing education between the dates of April 1, 2006 and April 1, 2008 for this renewal period.
All Optometrist whose licenses and optometric legend drug certificate that expire on April 1, 2008 must have completed continuing education between the dates of April 1, 2006 and April 1, 2008. Continuing education credit units or clock hours must be obtained within the biennial renewal period and may not be carried over from one (1) licensure period to another
**APPROVAL OF OPTOMETRY CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS**
NEW PROVISION EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2006
As of July 1, 2006, new provisions were effective regarding the approval of continuing education programs. Under the new statutory provision as listed below, if a program is designed to directly enhance the practitioner's knowledge and skill in providing services relevant to the practitioner's profession or occupation and falls under an "Approved Organization" it is no longer necessary to submit an application for continuing education approval by the Indiana Optometry Board.
Under IC 25-1-4-0.2:
Sec. 0.2. As used in this chapter, "approved organization" refers to the following:
- United States Department of Education.
- Council on Post-Secondary Education.
- Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals.
- Joint Commission on Healthcare Organizations.
- Federal, state, and local government agencies.
- A college or other teaching institution accredited by the United States Department of Education or the Council on Post-Secondary Education.
- A national organization of practitioners whose members practicing in Indiana are subject to regulation by a board or agency regulating a profession or occupation under this title or IC 15.
- A national, state, district, or local organization that operates as an affiliated entity under the approval of any organization listed in subdivisions (1) and (7).
- An internship or a residency program conducted in a hospital that has been approved by an organization listed in subdivisions (1) through (7).
- Any other organization or individual approved by the Board.
Also, under IC 25-1-4-0.5:
Sec. 0.5. As used in this chapter, "continuing education means an orderly process of instruction that is approved by an approved organization or the board that is designed to directly enhance the practitioner's knowledge and skill in providing services relevant to the practitioner's profession or occupation.
SPONSORS WITH AUTOMATIC APPROVAL
- The Indiana Optometric Association and its affiliates.
- The American Optometric Association (AOA).
- The Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE).
- The American Academy of Ophthalmologists and its affiliate organizations.
- The American Academy of Optometrists and its affiliate organizations.
- Other state optometric associations and their affiliate local societies.
- Regional optometric associations.
- Postgraduate courses offered at any accredited school of optometry.
Note: Programs that do not fall under IC 25-1-4 or have not been approved by the Optometry Board will not be accepted as credit for license renewal.
SELF-STUDY CONTINUING EDUCATION Self-study continuing education shall be limited to three (3) hours biennially for an optometry license unless the practitioner provides evidence to the Indiana Optometry Board: 1) such a limitation poses an undue burden upon the practitioner; or 2) the practitioner may not otherwise satisfy his or her continuing education requirements. Up to twenty (20) hours may be completed for Optometric Legend Drug certificates. In order to be accepted as continuing education for license renewal, self-study methods of presentation must include a written examination or post evaluation.
Self-study includes the following:
- Journals and books
- Audiotapes
- Films and videotapes
- Internet on-line
- Closed circuit television
- Satellite broadcasts
- Correspondence courses
- CD-ROM
- DVD
- Teleconferencing
- Videoconferencing
- Distance learning
CONTIUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR RENEWAL
- Practice management courses.
- The writing of articles for publication and teaching of courses.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CERTIFICATES A licensee is not required to submit copies of their continuing education certificates at the time of renewal. By renewing online or signing the renewal application you swear or affirm under the penalties of perjury that you have completed the continuing education requirement. A practitioner shall retain copies of continuing education certificates for three (3) years from the end of the licensing period. After the renewal, a percentage of practitioners will be chosen in a random audit to submit copies of their continuing education certificates. If the practitioner does not comply with the audit the Board will proceed with action against the licensee.
Continuing education certificates must contain the following information:
- The name of the participant
- The name of the sponsoring organization
- The title of the program
- The date of the program
- The location of the program
- The number of continuing education hours awarded.
COPIES OF STATUTE AND RULES Copies of the statute and rules that relate to renewal and continuing education are available to download at Statistics and Rules.
QUESTIONS
If you have any questions regarding optometry or optometric legend drug continuing education you may contact the Indiana Optometry Board at (317) 234-2054 or email us at pla8@pla.IN.gov or by FAX at (317) 233-4236. You can also make your request in writing to:
Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
ATTN: Indiana Optometry Board
402 West Washington Street, Room W072
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
