Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 430-2-.04 - Continuing Education Requirements; Approval of Education Programs
(1) The Board has
pre-approved continuing education (post-graduate) courses from schools and
colleges of optometry accredited by the Council on Optometric Education of the
American Optometric Association; a maximum of ten (10) hours per biennium in
ophthalmologic related courses taught by the Medical College of Georgia, Emory
University, Mercer University and Morehouse College; any courses offered by the
American Optometric Association or its regional or state affiliates; the
Society of Professional Optometrists of Georgia; the SECO International, LLC,
the Council on Optometric Practice Education (C.O.P.E.) and any courses
approved by C.O.P.E.; American Board of Optometry and American Academy of
Optometry. All preapproved continuing education providers must give
notification of their courses on a timely basis to all Georgia Optometrists.
Any other individual or organization desiring Board approval of an educational
program sponsored by the individual or organization, or particular segments of
such a program shall submit a request for approval to the State Board of
Optometry, 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, Georgia 31217, not later than thirty (30)
days prior to the scheduled date of such program. Each administrator of
continuing education credit that gives credit to more than five doctors at any
single event shall register all attendees and credits with the Association of
Regulatory Boards of Optometry-OE Tracker Program. The Board will act on such
request within thirty (30) days after receipt of the request for approval. Any
request for Board approval of an educational program must include the following
information:
(a) The identity of the sponsor,
including:
1. The name and address of the
sponsoring individual(s) or organization and a description of any
organizational form (e.g., unincorporated association, non-profit corporation,
etc.) and the date of organization;
2. The name and address of the principal
officers of the sponsor.
(b) A description of the program, including:
1. With respect to each course for which
approval is sought:
(i) the name and address
of the instructor;
(ii) the title
of the course;
(iii) a brief
biographical sketch of the instructor including a detailed description
(curriculum vitae) of his/her academic qualifications and a listing of prior
publications including published speeches, which relates to the subject matter
of the course;
(iv) an outline of
the proposed content;
(v) the
number of hours for which approval is requested, including a specification of
those hours relating to practice management.
2. The scheduled time and place of the
course;
3. A description of the
method by which course attendance is to be monitored;
4. The amount of any registration fee,
tuition or other charge for attendance, including a statement of any difference
in such charges, which depend on membership in the sponsoring
organization;
5. A sample of any
advertisement or announcement intended to be employed concerning the
program.
(c) Such
additional information as the Board may request in the course of its
deliberations concerning the application for approval.
(2) The following course content will not
satisfy the continuing education requirement:
(a) Courses dealing with social and health
trends;
(b) Any course unrelated to
or not designed to enhance the professional skill of the
practitioner;
(c) Courses conducted
by any individual who is the owner of or is directly connected with any optical
wholesale concern unless approved by the Board.
(d) CPR.
(3) A doctor of optometry is expected to
ascertain in advance that the courses, which he/she attends, have received
prior Board approval and do not fall within the exceptions of sub-part
(2).
(4) Board approval of any
educational program under this section relates to the program as proposed to
the Board. In the event the actual program does not substantively correspond to
the proposed program approved by the Board, the board will not give credit for
that program under Code Section
43-30-8.
The Board will not consider for approval the program as modified.
(5) Minimum hours required. The Board
requires a minimum of 36 hours of attendance at Board-approved continuing
education programs.
(a) Those licensed in the
first year of the biennium will be required to obtain eighteen (18) hours of
continuing education. This requirement applies regardless of when you establish
practice in Georgia. Licensees in this category shall obtain one (1) hour of CE
in Georgia laws and rules. This one (1) hour shall be included in the total
eighteen (18) hours required for renewal.
(b) Those licensed in the second year of the
biennium are not required to obtain continuing education in that
biennium.
(c) All licensees are
required to obtain thirty-six (36) hours per biennium beginning in the third
calendar year of licensure. Licensees shall obtain one (1) hour of
Board-approved continuing education in Georgia laws and rules. This one (1)
hour shall be included in the total thirty-six (36) hours required for
renewal.
(d) All CE hours on
Georgia laws and rules must be prior approved by the Board. A maximum of one
(1) hour per biennium will be allowed as continuing education credit in this
area. Georgia licensed optometrists not practicing in Georgia are exempt from
acquiring the one (1) hour of CE in Georgia laws and rules.
(e) A maximum of eight (8) hours per biennium
will be allowed as continuing education credit for grand rounds. One (1) hour
credit will be allowed for every two (2) hours spent in grand rounds.
(f) A maximum of ten (10) hours of continuing
education credit will be allowed per biennium for any coursework that is
offered by correspondence or electronic medium, which coursework is approved or
sponsored by any provider identified in paragraph (1) of this rule.
(g) A maximum of ten (10) hours of continuing
education credit will be allowed per biennium for practice management course
work, as long as it is patient care related.
(h) Effective January 1, 2006, of the
thirty-six (36) required hours, a minimum of 18 hours of continuing education
per biennium is required for pharmacology and pathology courses as related to
ophthalmologic conditions.
(6) Reporting and Auditing. The method of
reporting and auditing continuing education shall be:
(a) At the time of license renewal, each
Optometrist shall certify to the Board that he/she has completed the continuing
education required for license renewal. The preferred method of tracking
continuing education is through the ARBO OE-Tracker system and the licensee is
encouraged to verify that all course work has been posted to OE-Tracker. If the
licensee chooses to not participate in the OE-Tracker system and if all of
his/her education credits are not posted therein, the licensee may be required
to submit paper records via email or FAX directly to the board in order to
demonstrate compliance with the required continuing education hours.
(b) The Board shall audit the continuing
education of a percentage of licensees for compliance with all rules and
regulations. Such audits will be completed after the license renewal date and
will cover course work completed during the just-completed biennium.
(c) Each licensed Optometrist shall maintain
records of attendance and supporting documents for continuing education for a
period of three (3) years from the date of attendance.
(d) Deferral of the requirement for education
program hours may be considered by the Board. Requests for deferral must be
submitted to the Board in writing and should include complete documentation of
the reasons for the request. Deferral will be considered for the following
reasons:
1. certified illness; and
2. hardship.
Notes
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