Section 23.82. Continuing education hour requirements

(a) An applicant for biennial license renewal or reactivation of license is required to complete, during the 2 years preceding renewal or reactivation, a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education. For licensees certified in accordance with section 4.1 of the act (63 P. S. § 244.4a), regarding certification to prescribe and administer pharmaceutical agents for therapeutic purposes, at least 6 of the required 30 hours shall concern the prescription and administration of pharmaceutical agents for therapeutic purposes. For licensees certified in accordance with section 4.2 of the act (63 P. S. § 244.4b), regarding additional requirements to prescribe and administer pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of certain types of glaucoma, at least 4 of the 30 hours shall concern the prescription and administration of pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of glaucoma. The 4 hours taken in the treatment of glaucoma may be applied toward the 6 hours required to maintain therapeutic certification; however, all licensees shall complete at least 30 total hours. Completion of a Board-approved course described in section 4.1(a)(2) of the act or continuing education described in section 4.2 of the act shall satisfy the continuing education requirement for the biennial renewal period in which it is completed including the 6-hour requirement in therapeutics and the 4-hour requirement in glaucoma.

(b) Persons failing to meet the continuing education requirements for any biennial renewal period will be disciplined in accordance with section 7(e) of the act (63 P. S. § 244.7(e)).

(c) The Board may waive the requirements of continuing education in cases of certified illness or undue hardship. It is the duty of each licensee seeking waiver to notify the Board in writing and request the waiver prior to the end of the biennial renewal period for which the waiver is sought. The waiver will be granted, denied or granted in part.

The provisions of this § 23.82 adopted April 16, 1982, effective April 17, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 1231; amended April 23, 1982, effective April 24, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 1331; amended June 5, 1998, effective June 6, 1998, 28 Pa.B. 2586; amended March 12, 2004, effective Mach 13, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 1453; amended August 6, 2004, effective August 7, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 4147. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (302878) and (302879).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 23.82 amended under sections 3(b)(12) and (14), 4.1 and 4.2 of the Optometric Practice and Licensure Act (63 P. S. § § 244.3(b)(12) and (14) 244.4a and 244.4b).

Cross References

This section cited in 49 Pa. Code § 23.81 (relating to coverage); 49 Pa. Code § 23.89 (relating to falsification of information); and 49 Pa. Code § 43b.25 (relating to schedule of civil penalties—optometrists).