Florida Administrative Code
64 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
64B13 - Board of Optometry
Chapter 64B13-5 - CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
Section 64B13-5.001 - Hours Requirement

(1) As a condition to the renewal of a biennial license, each licensed practitioner shall be required to maintain professional competency by completing thirty (30) clock hours of continuing education in subjects relating to optometry that have been approved by the Board. Licensed practitioners shall not be required to complete the continuing education requirements during the biennium in which they are initially licensed but must complete one (1) hour of approved continuing education in acquired immune deficiency syndrome that complies with the requirements of section 456.033, F.S. Credit for continuing education will be allowed on the basis of an hour for hour. To receive one (1) hour credit, a licensed practitioner must attend not less than fifty (50) minutes. There will be no fractional hour credits. No continuing education course may be completed for credit more than once per biennium.

(2) For licensed practitioners who are certified optometrists, at least six (6) of the required thirty (30) hours must be of "transcript quality." For purposes of this rule, the phrase "transcript quality" refers to coursework in ocular and systemic pharmacology and the diagnosis, treatment and management of ocular and systemic conditions and diseases. Transcript quality CE must be sponsored by a school or college of optometry or equivalent educational entity as approved by the Board, must be obtained at a live in-person attendance course, and must require a test and passing grade.

(3) Attendance at a continuing education program must be certified by the lecturer or someone in charge of the program. An instructor of a course may credit the hours taught towards completion of the instructor's required continuing education only once, regardless of the number of times the course is taught. However, the instructor of a course may not credit the hours taught towards completion of the "transcript quality" portion of the continuing education requirement. Continuing education hours must be obtained during the biennium preceding license renewal.

(4) Licensed practitioners shall be permitted to earn two (2) of the thirty (30) clock hours of continuing education credit upon demonstrating successful completion of approved training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation given by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.

(5) As part of the thirty (30) clock hours, licensed practitioners shall be permitted to obtain two (2) hours in the area of practice management. No more than two (2) hours of continuing education in the area of practice management may be applied to the thirty (30) clock hour requirement in subsection (1). These hours may be obtained through live, in-person or online/distance learning courses.

(6) As part of the thirty (30) clock hours, licensed practitioners shall be required to obtain two (2) hours in the area of Florida jurisprudence.

(7) As part of the thirty (30) clock hours, licensed practitioners are required to complete a two (2) -hour course relating to prevention of medical errors, as part of the renewal process. The course shall be approved by the Board and shall include a study of root-cause analysis, error reduction and prevention, and patient safety. If the course is being offered by a facility licensed pursuant to chapter 395, F.S., for its employees, the Board approves one (1) hour of the two (2) -hour course to be specifically related to error reduction and prevention methods used in that facility. No more than two (2) hours of continuing education relating to the prevention of medical errors may be applied to the thirty (30) clock hour requirement in subsection (1).

(8) As required by section 456.0301(1)(a), F.S., as part of the thirty (30) clock hours, all certified optometrists registered with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) shall, and all Licensed Practitioners may, complete a board approved two (2) hour course on prescribing controlled substances. All certified optometrists registered with the DEA must complete the course no later than January 31, 2019, and during each subsequent licensure renewal biennium. For all licensees, the course may be completed in either a live or online/distance learning format.