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Indiana Optometry Board
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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
http://www.in.gov/pla/bandc/iob/statruls.html.
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
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