Section Opt 402.04 - Approved Continuing Education(a) Class I continuing education credit hours shall be accumulated as follows: (1) "Formal CE" means participation in workshops, seminars, conferences, courses, and related facility based in-services, such as hospital rounds or its equivalent. Formal CE given by the American Academy of Optometry, the American Optometric Association and any state or regional affiliate, or any accredited college of optometry, medicine or pharmacy, or approved by the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE), shall be automatically approved as Class I; and(2) "Alternative CE" means "non-live" CE and includes, but is not limited to, internet, teleconferences and DVD education. The subject matter shall be acceptable for Class I CE. Alternative CE shall be COPE approved or provided by a college of optometry, medicine or osteopathy, or by the American Academy of Optometry, the American Optometric Association or any state or regional affiliate. Alternative CE shall include an examination with a passing grade.(b) A course of practice management shall not be approved as Class I continuing education for purposes of Opt 402.04(a).(c) Formal continuing education offered by sponsors other than those identified in Opt 402.04(a)(1), above, shall be approved for class I credit only if the board receives a letter from a licensee of the board requesting such approval at least 45 days prior to the starting date of the course which requests approval, and the board determines that the course is relevant to the practice of optometry.(d) Requests for approval pursuant to (c) above shall be approved provided that such requests contain the following information:(1) A description of the sponsoring agency;(2) The title, location and date of the course;(3) A description of all subjects covered by the course;(4) The total hours of study involved in the course and a breakdown of the time devoted to each of the subjects covered by the course;(5) The name(s) and professional qualifications of the instructor(s);(6) A statement that attendees who are present for the entire course shall be given an attendance certificate for license renewal purposes;(7) A statement whether the course is approved by a current accrediting agency or another state licensing board; and(e) An approved course shall allow no more than 10 hours of credit for a full day session.(f) An approved course shall include procedures for checking attendance at each session, and shall provide persons who attend the entire course an attendance certificate for license renewal purposes.(g) An approved course shall feature subjects, instructors, textbooks and equipment which reflect a current level of optometric education and research.(h) Class II continuing education hours shall be accumulated through independent study, including optometric, medical and pharmacy journals, textbooks, literature, and internet continuing education courses.(i) Practice management courses and study shall be accepted as Class II continuing education but shall not exceed 3 hours in any one year period.(j) CPR courses presented by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, National Safety Council, or American Safety and Health Institute qualified instructor shall be automatically approved as Class I.(k) Independent study shall be verified by a statement of completion from the entity providing the course of study or by a complete record of materials including: (1) The title and author of the material;(2) The name and source of the material;(3) The date the study was completed;(4) The length of time required for completion; and(5) A summary of the content of study.N.H. Admin. Code § Opt 402.04
(See Revision Note at part heading for Opt 100) #5839, eff 6-17-94; amd by #6797, eff 7-10-98, all but paragraph (d) EXPIRED: 6-17-00; amd by #7370, INTERIM, eff 9-30-00, EXPIRED: 3-29-01
New. #7670, eff 4-4-02; amd by #7889, eff 5-20-03; ss by #9342, eff 12-9-08; amd by #9801, eff 10-19-10
Amended by Volume XXXVII Number 10, Filed March 9, 2017, Proposed by #12108, Effective 2/21/2017, Expires 8/20/2017.Amended by Volume XXXVII Number 41, Filed October 12, 2017, Proposed by #12383, Effective 9/16/2017, Expires 9/16/2027.