Rule 30-2901-4.1 - 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.30 Miss. Code. R. 2901-4.1
Miss Code Ann. § 73-19-153 section 73-19-157