1. (a) The Act requires each optometrist licensed in this state to take 16 hours of continuing education per calendar year with at least six hours in the diagnosis or treatment of ocular disease. The calendar year is considered to begin January 1 and run through December 31.

2. (b) The board accepts for continuing education credit all courses sponsored by any board-accredited college or schools of optometry and such other programs or courses of other organizations as are approved by the board upon recommendation from the Continuing Education Committee, appointed by the Board Chair. The Continuing Education Committee will consider, among other things in its discretion, the following criteria in approving courses:

   1. (1) all subjects of education must be directly related to optometry;
   2. (2) courses sponsored by or given by accredited optometry schools will be granted automatic approval;
   3. (3) courses meeting evaluation standards and receiving approval of the International Association of Boards of Examiners in Optometry will be granted automatic approval;
   4. (4) courses sponsored by optometric organizations may be given approval;
   5. (5) courses sponsored by universities or accredited nonoptometric schools may be given approval if the subject matter is directly related to optometry;
   6. (6) correspondence courses sponsored and graded by accredited optometry schools may be given approval, with a maximum of four hours of continuing education credit per calendar year per licensee;
   7. (7) courses sponsored by individual providers may be approved but providers must supply the committee with a synopsis of the lecture material to be presented, itinerary including time in the class, and resumes of the lecturers;
   8. (8) on-line computer courses with post-course testing sponsored by the International Association of Boards of Examiners in Optometry or by accredited optometry schools will be considered for no more than four hours of continuing education credit per calendar year.

3. (c) Licensees who have not complied with the education requirements may not be issued a renewal license unless such person is entitled to an exemption under the Act, §4.01B(a). The following persons are exempt:

   1. (1) a licensee who holds a Texas license, but does not practice optometry in Texas; provided, however, that if at any time during the calendar year for which such exemption has been obtained such person desires to practice optometry, such person shall not be entitled to practice optometry in Texas until 16 hours of continuing education credits are obtained and the board has been notified of the completion of such continuing education requirements;
   2. (2) a licensee who served in the regular armed forces of the United States during part of the 12 months immediately preceding the annual license renewal date;
   3. (3) a licensee who submits proof satisfactory to the board that the licensee suffered a serious or disabling illness or physical disability which prevented the licensee from complying with the requirements of this section during the 12 months immediately preceding the annual license renewal date; provided, however, that in lieu of claiming the exemption, a licensee who has submitted the requisite proof of illness or disability may elect to obtain the education requirement by correspondence or multi-media courses sponsored, monitored, or graded by colleges of optometry; or
   4. (4) a licensee who is first licensed within the 12 months immediately preceding the annual renewal date.
4. (d) Approved courses must be available to all Texas licensed optometrists at a fee considered reasonable and nondiscriminatory.
5. (e) Summaries of the courses and resumes of those teaching must be submitted to the board's Continuing Education Committee for approval or disapproval. This information should be received 60 days prior to the date the course is to take place.
6. (f) Written proof of attendance and completion of approved courses must be supplied by the licensed optometrist to the board in conjunction with the renewal application for an optometry license. If the licensed optometrist is practicing in Texas, the licensee should submit the original proof of attendance or the approved sponsors of continuing education may submit to the board written proof of attendance and completion of approved courses on behalf of the licensed optometrist. Information such as the following will be required: sponsoring organizations; location and dates; course names; instructors; names of attendee; number of education hours completed; and any other information deemed necessary by the board. Proof of attendance supplied by the sponsor should contain at least one signature of the sponsor's designee.

Source Note:The provisions of this §275.1 adopted to be effective August 11, 1983, 8 TexReg 2934; amended to be effective March 4, 1985, 10 TexReg 631; amended to be effective May 31, 1988, 13 TexReg 2317; amended to be effective January 1, 1994, 18 TexReg 5745; amended to be effective July 19, 1994, 19 TexReg 5169; amended to be effective May 17, 1996, 21 TexReg 3942; amended to be effective May 28, 1997, 22 TexReg 4362; amended to be effective February 11, 1998, 23 TexReg 1024.