A n optometrist must complete 45 hours of continuing education within each three-year period after the date of initial licensure. Of the 45 hours of continuing education required each cycle, 30 hours must be live, where the lecturer and learner are physically present at the same location. The remaining 15 continuing education hours may be completed live or by self-directed learning as specified in § 20:50:08:02.01 .

An optometrist must complete five hours annually of continuing pharmaceutical education in the area of diagnosis and treatment of ocular disease. The five hours of annual pharmaceutical education count toward the 45 hours required each three years.

Source: SL 1975, ch 16, § 1; 6 SDR 66, effective January 8, 1980; 12 SDR 151, 12 SDR 155, effective July 1, 1986; 13 SDR 44, effective October 20, 1986; 15 SDR 40, effective September 13, 1988; 17 SDR 199, effective June 30, 1991; 21 SDR 35, effective August 30, 1994; 31 SDR 101, effective January 19, 2005; 37 SDR 133, effective January 18, 2011 ; 49 SDR 12, effective August 14, 2022 .

General Authority: SDCL 36-7-20.2 .

Law Implemented: SDCL 36-7-15 (7), 36-7-20 .

Prior versions effective: 2011-01-18.