OAR 852-070-0055: Continuing Optometric Education Provided by Outside Entities

(1) All continuing optometric education provided by other organizations that aren't listed specifically in rule, must be submitted to the Board for approval before credit will be granted. Persons submitting courses for credit review must allow at least 30 days for the review. Renewing active status licensees may not count a course toward meeting the continuing education requirement before it is approved by the Board. (2) Approval or denial of the continuing optometric education will be based on course: (a) Relevance to modern optometric practice; (b) Provision of skills or information which can translate to improved patient care; (c) Content being recognized and accepted as sound scientific thought; (d) Provision of heightened content standards needed by optometric physicians; and (e) Online pre-recorded or non-interactive courses require a quiz of at least 15 questions for course approval. Licensees must pass the quiz with a score of at least 75%. For a .50 course there must be a minimum of 5 questions, a 1.0 course must require a minimum of 10 questions. Courses longer than 1.0 hour must increase question numbers based on the .5 or 1.0 requirement. For example, a 2 hour course would require a minimum of 20 questions. (3) The Board may accept continuing optometric education courses that have been approved by other organizations. This acceptance will be in accordance with the standards set by the Board. (4) Courses acceptable to the Board for continuing education credit must be at least one half-hour in length, must be proctored for attendance, and the sponsor must provide original source documentation of successful completion to the attendee. Additional credits must be in half-hour increments.