Optometry, Board of Examiners in

Optometry, Board of Examiners in

Chapter 3: License Issuance and Renewal

Effective Date: 07/15/2005 to 11/07/2005

Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations

Reference Number: 056.0001.3.07152005

CHAPTER 3

LICENSE ISSUANCE AND RENEWAL

Section 1. Issuance of License. The Board shall issue a successful applicant a license bearing the full name of the Licensee, date of issuance, license number and appropriate seal.

1. (a) A Licensee shall notify the Board in writing of his/her business address prior to engaging in the practice of optometry.
2. (b) A Licensee shall provide the Board written notice of retirement from active practice.
3. (c) A Licensee shall notify the Board if a license is lost, stolen or destroyed.
4. (d) Duplicate wall certificates may be issued by the Board. All requests for duplicate certificates must be in writing and accompanied by the appropriate fee.

Section 2. License Renewal.

1. (a) The Board shall mail a renewal notice to active licensees and volunteer certificate holders at their address of record no later than forty-five (45) days prior to the license or certificate expiration date.
2. (b) License renewal application and fees shall be postmarked no later than the expiration date.
3. (c) Failure to receive notice for renewal of license or certificate from the Board shall not excuse a licensee from the requirement for renewal under the Act and these rules.

Section 3. Continuing Education for Active Licensees. As a condition for renewal, each Licensee is required to complete a total of forty (40) hours of continuing education over a period of two (2) calendar years. Continuing education shall encompass the subjects of Contact Lenses, Primary Care (Disease), VT, Practice Management and General Optometry.

1. (a) Continuing education hours shall be completed by attending courses which have been certified by the Board. Continuing education hours cannot be completed by correspondence.
2. (b) Continuing education hours will be required for the two (2) calendar years following the first renewal period and each two (2) calendar years thereafter.
3. (i) New licensees issued a license in an odd year will be required to have forty (40) hours of continuing education, and those issued a license in an even year will be required to have twenty (20) hours of continuing education for their first renewal.

(c) Licensees authorized to prescribe therapeutic pharmaceuticals shall obtain fifteen (15) hours of the required forty (40) hours of continuing education in topics addressing ocular systemic therapeutics.

(d) A maximum of six (6) hours of continuing education in the area of Practice Management may be applied towards the required forty (40) hours.

(e) A maximum of four (4) hours of COPE (Council on Optometric Practitioner Education) approved continuing education through the Internet may be applied towards the required forty (40) hours. Documentation of continuing education shall consist of registration receipt and examination results.

(f) Verification of attendance or documentation may be submitted on forms provided by the Board and must be received prior to the license being renewed.

(g) All continuing education must be postmarked no later than December 31 of the renewing biennium year.

(i) Continuing education received after that date will be assessed a late fee.

Section 4. Continuing Education for Volunteer Certificate Holders.

(a) Continuing education requirements shall consist of twenty (20) hours per year. If therapeutically authorized then eight (8) hours shall be systemic ocular therapeutics.

Section 5. Failure to Renew. Any person engaging in the practice of optometry who has not renewed their license on or prior to the expiration date is in violation of W.S. 33-23-103 and subject to any and all remedies allowed by law and these rules.

(a) The Board may suspend any license which has not been renewed on or before April 1 following a sixty (60) day renewal notice sent to the Licensee.

(b) The provisions of this section do not apply to those license holders who have properly notified the Board of their retirement from active practice.

Section 6. Renewal Following Retirement. Any optometrist who has properly notified the Board of retirement from active practice as required in Section 1(b) of this Chapter, may renew his/her license to practice optometry within (3) years of the retirement date reported to the Board. Payment of the renewal fee for each year the license was in lapse, as well as payment of a reinstatement/late fee. In addition to the renewal fees, an optometrist must submit verification of attendance of no less than twenty (20) hours at approved continuing education for each year of his/her retirement.