Wyo. Code R. 056-0001-3
Optometry, Board of Examiners in
Chapter 3: License Issuance and Renewal
Effective Date: 05/22/2012 to 04/09/2018
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 056.0001.3.05222012
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.
(a) A Licensee shall notify the Board in writing of his/her business address prior to engaging in the practice of optometry.
(b) A Licensee shall provide the Board written notice of retirement from active practice.
(c) A Licensee shall notify the Board if a license is lost, stolen or destroyed.
(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.
(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.
(b) License renewal application and fees shall be postmarked no later than the expiration date. Renewal applications postmarked after the expiration date or the next business day in cases when the expiration date falls on a weekend or holiday, will not be accepted.
(c) Renewal applications shall not be accepted more than forty-five (45) days prior to the expiration date.
(d) Failure to receive notice for renewal of license or certificate 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 ending on December 31 of each odd numbered year. Continuing education shall relate to the practice of the profession of optometry.
(a) Continuing education hours shall be completed by attending courses which are COPE (Council on Optometric Practitioner Education) qualified or sponsored by COPE, AOA (American Optometric Association), AOA recognized state associations, AAO (American Academy of Optometry), schools and colleges of optometry, COVD (College of Visual Development), OEP (Optometric Extension Program) and clinical facilities specializing in eye care that are staffed by professors or adjunct professors of optometry or ophthalmology at accredited optometry or medical schools. Other courses may be submitted to the Board for pre-approval by the Education Committee.
(b) Continuing education hours will be required following the first renewal period and each two (2) calendar years thereafter. The first renewal period for new licensees begins on January 1st following the date their license was issued.
(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 continuing education reporting period.
(ii) Only those continuing education hours acquired during the continuing education reporting period will be considered. Duplicate courses taken during a continuing education reporting period will not be accepted.
(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 combined maximum of six (6) hours of COPE (Council on Optometric Practitioner Education) qualified continuing education through the Internet or correspondence may be applied towards the required forty (40) hours. Documentation of continuing education shall consist of registration receipt and examination results.
(f) Licensees shall report their continuing education through the ARBO OE Tracker program.
(i) Licensees shall maintain copies of any certificates of attendance, letters certifying attendance, transcripts, or any other official documents which serve as proof of continuing education participation or attendance for at least two (2) years from the date submitted for renewal.
(ii) Proof of attendance shall contain the activity title, dates, contact hours attended, sponsor, presenter, name of licensee and be signed by the sponsor or the presenter.
g) Continuing education may be audited by the Board for verification of compliance with these requirements and the Board may disallow any course not meeting the intended continuing education criteria.
(i) If the Board disallows any continuing education hours as a result of an audit, the licensee shall have three (3) months from notice of such disallowance to;
(A) Provide further evidence that the disallowed continuing education hours meet the criteria established by these rules, or
(B) Provide evidence of having completed appropriate continuing education during the required time frame which may substitute for the disallowance, or
(C) Remedy the disallowance by completing the number of additional continuing education hours necessary to fulfill the requirements. These additional continuing education hours shall not be reported on subsequent applications for license renewal.
(h) Failure to provide the documents requested for audit within thirty (30) days of the date of the request may subject the licensee to disciplinary action.
(i) All continuing education must be posted on the ARBO OE Tracker website no later than December 31 of the renewing biennium year. Continuing education posted after December 31 will be assessed a late fee.
(j) The Board may, upon application, waive the continuing education requirements in cases involving illness or unusual circumstances interfering with the optometrist's ability to practice.
(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. All licenses expire at midnight on April 1. Licensees who have not submitted a complete renewal application, proof of
continuing education, and all required fees prior to the expiration date may not continue to practice optometry as provided in W.S. 33-23-103.
(a) An expired license may be reinstated by submitting a request for reinstatement, a complete renewal application, proof of continuing education, the required renewal fee, and the Late/Reinstatement Fee which must be received in the Board office no later than June 30 of the year in which the license expired.
(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.