30 Miss. Code. R. 2901-4.1 - General Requirements for all therapeutic optometrists
(a) All
therapeutically certified optometrists are required to obtain twenty (20) hours
of continuing education (CE) each year for as long as they are in active
practice. Ten (10) of these hours shall consist of therapeutic subject matter.
16 must be either, approved by the Counsel on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE), must be taken at a National, Regional, or State Conference or at a school of optometry/teaching institution. The calendar year is considered to begin January 1 and run through December 31.
(b) The board accepts for continuing
education credit all courses sponsored by any board-accredited college or
school of optometry and such other programs or courses of other organizations
as are approved by the board. The board will consider, among other things in
its discretion, the following criteria in approving courses:
(1) all subjects of education must be
directly related to optometry;
(2)
courses sponsored by or given by accredited optometry schools will be granted
automatic approval;
(3) courses
meeting evaluation standards and receiving approval of the Association of
Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO) will be granted automatic
approval;
(4) courses sponsored by
optometric organizations may be given approval;
(5) courses sponsored by universities or
accredited non-optometric schools may be given approval if the subject matter
is directly related to optometry;
(6) correspondence courses sponsored and
graded by accredited optometry schools may be given approval, with a maximum of
four hours of continuing education credit per calendar year per
licensee;
(7) courses sponsored by
individual providers may be approved but must supply the board with a synopsis
of the lecture material to be presented, as well as resumes of the
lecturers.
(8) The annual
continuing education program of the Mississippi Optometric Association. A
detailed summary of the annual continuing education program certified to by the
Association's President shall be filed with the board prior to the meeting in
which the course is offered.
(9)
Other meetings or seminars either within or without the State of Mississippi
that may be approved in advance by the board upon written request for approval
made to the board at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting or seminar. A
copy of the program, names of speakers with qualifications, subject matter
covered by each speaker and class hours to be offered by each, proof of
attendance procedure and the proposed form of the signed attendance
certificates procedure and the proposed form of the signed attendance
certificates to be used; and the legal name, mailing and the street address and
telephone number of the sponsor of such program shall be included as part of
the written request and the request application must be signed by the sponsor
or a duly authorized officer of the sponsor. The board, in approving may limit
the credit hours allowed for any meeting, seminar, or subject under this
item.
(10) In cases of extenuating
circumstances, home study materials specified and approved by the board. Such
will be allowed only upon submission of satisfactory evidence to the board of
such circumstances and inability to otherwise acquire the required number of
study hours. Credit hours to be allowed will be determined upon approval of
such course of study.
(c) There shall be no exemption for persons
over the age of sixty-five (65). The burden is upon the sponsor applicant to
file sufficient supporting material to show that the course proposed contains
optometric educational material of a sufficient quality and value to justify
board approval and that such material will be presented in a proper manner by
qualified instructors.
(d) The
board shall be notified in writing by the sponsor of any variance between the
course as submitted and as actually presented and shall be provided a statement
as to the reason for such variance. Any material variance from the course of
study and instructors as submitted and approved may result in rejection of
credit for such course.
(e) The
board will grant one hour of education credit each year for required active CPR
certification and one hour of education credit will be given annually for
completion of a two hour course pertaining to the prescribing and diversion of
controlled substances. Both of these courses are mandatory for all
optometrists.
The course pertaining to the prescribing and diversion of controlled substances must be completed every two years and initially by the 2022 renewal.
(f) Approved
courses must be available to all licensed optometrists at a fee considered
reasonable and nondiscriminatory.
(g) Written proof of attendance and
completion of approved courses must be supplied by the licensed optometrist to
the board in conjunction with the renewal application for an optometry license.
Information such as the following will be required: sponsoring organizations;
location and dates; course names; instructors; names of attendees; number of
education hours completed; and any other information deemed necessary by the
board. Proof of attendance supplied by the sponsor should contain at least one
signature of the sponsor's designee.
Notes
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