ARM 24.168.2101. CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS – AUDIT

(1) Licensed optometrists shall complete 36 hours of approved continuing education (CE) every two years: (a) Up to 12 hours of asynchronous approved CE courses may be counted toward the CE requirement. (b) Up to 4 hours of practice management approved CE may be counted toward the CE requirement. (c) The board does not limit or restrict online approved synchronous CE courses. (2) Licensees holding a laser surgical certificate must complete 8 hours of CE relating to lasers or surgery during each CE cycle. (3) Licensees holding a laser surgical certificate or a TPA certificate must complete 2 hours of CE related to pain management during each CE cycle. (4) The following are exceptions to CE requirements: (a) A person who graduates from an accredited school of optometry and becomes a licensee within one year of graduation is excused from the CE requirement during the first applicable CE cycle. (b) A licensee who is enrolled in a residency program accredited by the ACOE is excused from the CE requirement while the licensee is in the residency program and during the first applicable CE cycle. (5) The department is authorized to audit CE requirements and shall determine the percentage to audit based on a statistically relevant sampling of the total number of licensees and the compliance rate of past audits. Audits will be conducted in odd-numbered years.