HAR §16-92-39. Educational courses; approval

(a) Professional educational but not practice management courses sponsored by the following are automatically approved: (1) United States accredited colleges and schools of optometry; (2) Regional and national optometric societies and councils; (3) American Academy of Optometry; (4) International Optometric Extension Program Foundation; and (5) United States optometric associations. (b) Correspondence courses sponsored by optometric journals recognized by the board shall be approved by the board provided that the number of hours constitutes no more than twenty-five per cent of the total number of continuing education hours required per biennium for license renewal. (c) All courses sponsored by persons or organizations other than those outlined above shall be submitted to the board for approval on a form as provided by the board, unless the course is approved by the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education. Forms shall be submitted to the board no more than forty-five days after the course is completed. 92-13 §16-92-39 (d) Practice management courses shall be considered for approval of continuing education credit hours if they meet the following criteria: (1) Aids the optometrist and the optometrist's staff to directly serve more patients in a more productive and efficient manner; (2) Is presented by an optometrist who is actively in practice, or by an instructor at any of the accredited colleges and schools of optometry, or by someone who is very knowledgeable of optometric practices; and (3) Promotes greater patient satisfaction and greater patient awareness of optometry. (e) Practice management courses pertaining to any of the following subject matters shall not be approved for continuing education credits: (1) Tax strategies; (2) Marketing/advertising; (3) Investments; or (4) Financial planning. (f) Board approval of a course shall remain valid until December 31 of the odd-numbered year, provided that approval may be withdrawn for cause after notification to the course provider by the board. (g) The board may reconsider disapproval of continuing education credit hours for any course if the sponsor files a motion for reconsideration in writing within ten days after the notice of disapproval is received by the licensee, pursuant to chapter 16-201, the rules of practice and procedure of the department. [Eff 1/1/74; am and ren §16-92-39, 6/22/81; am and comp 10/31/86; am and comp 5/19/89; am and comp 4/21/97; am and comp 7/23/99; comp 6/3/02; comp 11/1/10] (Auth: HRS §459-4) (Imp: HRS §459-7)