N.J. Admin. Code § 13:38-7.3

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 13:38-7.3 - Credit hour requirements

(a) An applicant for an active registration renewal certificate shall complete, during the preceding biennial period, a minimum of 50 credits of continuing professional optometric education. At least 30 of the 50 credits shall consist of courses or programs classified as therapeutic pharmaceutical agents (TPA) credits and shall be primarily devoted to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of ocular disease, ocular pathology, or the ocular manifestation of systemic disease, of which 10 of the 30 continuing professional optometric education credits shall be in oral TPA. The remaining 20 general continuing professional optometric education credits shall be in content areas set forth in N.J.A.C. 13:38-7.4.

1. Out of the 30 credits required, at minimum, for continuing education on TPAs, one credit shall be in educational programs or topics that concern the prescription of hydrocodone, or the prescription of opioid drugs in general, including responsible prescribing practices, the alternatives to the use of opioids for the management and treatment of pain, and the risks and signs of opioid abuse, addiction, and diversion. This credit shall not be eligible to be carried over as described in (d) below.

i. A licensee may seek a waiver of this one credit consistent with N.J.A.C. 13:38-7.7.

(b) An applicant who initially obtains a certificate within the first year of a biennial period shall complete at least 25 of the minimum required credits of continuing professional optometric education. At least 15 of the 25 credits shall consist of courses or programs classified as TPA credits and shall be devoted to the subject matter set forth in (a) above. Of the 15 credits, one credit shall be in educational programs or topics that concern the prescription of hydrocodone, or the prescription of opioid drugs in general, including responsible prescribing practices, the alternatives to the use of opioids for the management and treatment of pain, and the risks and signs of opioid abuse, addiction, and diversion. This credit shall not be eligible to be carried over as described in (d) below.

(c) An applicant who initially obtains a certificate within the second year of a biennial period shall be exempt from completing continuing professional optometric credits for that biennial renewal period.

(d) A licensee who completes more than the required 50 credits in any biennial period may carry up to 20 credits into any succeeding biennial period. Any credits to be carried over shall be earned in the last one year of the biennial renewal period and shall be applied to the general continuing professional optometric education requirements and shall not be applied to the TPA requirements.

(e) Any continuing education courses or programs directed or ordered by the Board to be taken by a licensee as all or part of a disciplinary or remedial measure or to remediate a deficiency in continuing professional optometric education credits for a prior biennial renewal period shall not be eligible to fulfill the mandatory continuing professional optometric education requirements for a subsequent biennial renewal period as set forth in this subchapter.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:38-7.3

Amended by 51 N.J.R. 473(a), effective 4/1/2019