1. (a)

   1. (1) Beginning on the first day of January 1996, in addition to the payment of the license renewal fee, each optometrist registered under the provisions of Acts 1941, No. 94, as amended by Acts 1957, No. 102, Acts 1979, No. 710, Acts 1987, No. 101, Acts 1991, No. 3907, and Acts 1997, Nos. 176 and 186, applying for the renewal of his or her license, shall furnish to the State Board of Optometry satisfactory evidence that he or she obtained no less than twelve (12) clock hours of post-graduate education in a course or courses, previously designated or approved by the board, in the year just preceding such application for the renewal of his or her license.

   2. (2)

      1. (A) All out-of-state CE must be COPE (Council on Optometric Practitioner Education) approved.
      2. (B) The board will continue to review:

2. (i) In-state courses; and

   1. (ii) Courses offered by accredited schools and colleges of optometry, schools of medicine, and pharmacy.
   2. (3) Of the twelve (12) clock hours required for license renewal, credit for four (4) clock hours may be obtained through approved correspondence or internet courses.
   3. (4) The Secretary-Treasurer of the State Board of Optometry shall mail by first class United States mail a written notice to this effect to each person holding a license to practice optometry within the state of Arkansas at least thirty (30) days prior to the first day of January in each year, directed to the last-known address of such licensee.

   4. (5) In the event that any licensee shall fail to obtain twelve (12) clock hours of post-graduate education previously designated or approved by the board, this is declared to be unprofessional conduct by the board and shall be cause:

      1. (A) For revocation or suspension of license to practice optometry in this state and/or fines; or
      2. (B) To refuse to issue a renewal of any license at any time.

3. (b) Provided, however, the board may reinstate such licensee to practice optometry in this state any time or issue a renewal license to any licensee at any time upon the:

   1. (1) Presentation of satisfactory evidence of completion of the post-graduate study required for license renewal; and

   2. (2) Payment of all fees due.

      1. (c) Provided, further, that any optometrist, who because of illness or other unavoidable circumstances is unable to comply herewith, may make application to the board stating the circumstances as to why he or she is unable to so comply, and the board, at its discretion, may relieve the applicant from so complying for such time and under such circumstances as the board deems proper.

         1. (d) If any licensee desires to be considered by the board as retired and not practicing optometry, then the licensee may renew his or her license without complying with the continuing education requirements.

4. (e)

   1. (1) One (1) clock hour of continuing education requirements of the required twelve (12) clock hours per year must be in the subject matter of Arkansas jurisprudence, to include the study of the Arkansas statutes and rules of the board governing the practice of optometry.
   2. (2) Said jurisprudence course must be preapproved by the board in order to meet the one-hour requirement of continuing education.
   3. (3) Any licensee completing the jurisprudence course online must provide the board with the thirty-five-dollar course fee.

5. (f)

   1. (1) Optometrists serving in the United States Armed Forces or United States Public Health Service assigned to duties outside the boundaries of the United States will be classified as “hardship” and excluded from the continued education requirements.

   2. (2) The board shall waive the annual renewal fee for all registered optometrists if the registered optometrist:

      1. (A) Holds a license to practice optometry in the State of Arkansas; and
      2. (B) Is a uniformed service member.

Codification Notes: “CE” means continuing education.