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    Maryland Department of Health
    Board of Examiners in Optometry

    Continuing Education Requirements for 2 -Year Renewal Cycle

    ​Continuing Education for 2022 Renewal

    Interactive Online and Journal/Online with Post Test

    Due to the continued issues involving face-to face interactions during this post pandemic era, the Board voted to waive certain CE requirements for the 2022 renewal cycle. Both the 30 hour limit for CE in the category of journal/online with a post-test and the 10-hour in-person, in Maryland requirements have been waived. Therefore, licensees who renew in 2022 are allowed to acquire all CE as interactive online and journal/online with post-test.

     

    TPA Certified optometrists are required to document 50 hours 30 of which must be therapeutic and have current CPR certification.

    DPA Certified optometrists are required to document 36 hours 6 of which must be diagnostic and have current CPR certification.

    Non-Certified optometrists are required to document 36 hours.

    Fractional Credit hours are allowed

    APPROVAL CODES

    The Board accepts only COPE approved or Maryland Board approved continuing education programs. The following COPE categories are accepted as therapeutic: (AS), (GL), (IS), (LP), (NO), (PD), (OP), (PH), (PO), (PS), (RE), (SD), (SP), (RS). These COPE categories are accepted as general: (CL), (EJ), (FV), (GO), (LV), (PB), (PM).

    CATEGORIES

    1. Board Meeting Attendance – The Board will allow continuing education credit of up to 4 hours in the two-year period for attendance at the regular session of Board meetings. Licensees will receive 2 hours and a certificate for each meeting attendance.

    2. Clinical Observation – Observation of clinical procedures (without a corresponding lecture) will be accepted for continuing education credit up to a maximum of 8 hours in the two-year period. The site must be pre-approved by the Board. The licensee needs to obtain a letter verifying the number of hours from the person or facility where the observation is done.

    3. General -Types of general hours may include the following:

      CPR –Required for DPA and TPA certification. DPA and TPA certified optometrists are responsible for maintaining proficiency with the current CPR procedures as recommended by the American Heart Association. The Board will grant a maximum of 3 hours in the two-year period for CPR recertification.

      Ethics – The Board will allow up to a maximum of 4 hours for Board approved courses in optometric ethics.

      Practice Management – The Board will allow a maximum of 4 hours in the two-year period for programs directly relating to patient care.

      Optometric Ethics/ Maryland Optometric Jurisprudence, or both – The Board will allow up to a maximum of 4 hours for Board approved courses in the two-year period..

      Cultural Competency – The Board will allow up to a maximum of 4 hours for Board approved courses in cultural competency.

      Other – The Board will allow approved programs that are relevant to the practice of optometry.

    4. Journal and Internet Courses – Courses given in optometric or other professional journals with a post-test, or Internet courses will be accepted for continuing education credit up to a maximum of 30 hours in the two-year period. Anyone with a physical handicap or other problem that precludes attendance at continuing education courses can request a waiver of the 30-hour limit from the Board.

    5. Lecture - There is no limit to the number of hours for attending face to face/ in-person/ live lectures. Optometrists licensed by the Board must complete a minimum of 10 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle by attending in-person trainings conducted in Maryland by an accredited administrator. The in-person trainings may include courses given by the Maryland Optometric Association, another statewide association or a nonprofit organization approved by the Board.

    6. Presented Program - Licensees who present approved CE programs will be allowed continuing education hours for the preparation and presentation of the program as follows: for each hour of presentation, the licensee will be allowed one hour for preparation and one hour for presentation up to a maximum of 16 hours in the two- year period.

    7. Pro Bono Work-The Board will allow 1 credit hour for each 3 hours of approved continuing education activity, up to a maximum of 6 credit hours per renewal cycle.

    8. Published Paper – The Board will allow continuing education credit for a maximum of 12 hours in the two-year period for papers which have been either published or peer–reviewed.