Texas Administrative Code › Title 22 - EXAMINING BOARDS › Part 14 - TEXAS OPTOMETRY BOARD › Chapter 275 - CONTINUING EDUCATION › Section 275.2 - Required Education

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
(a) Education for
				an advanced degree in optometric field or optometrically related field.
				One-hour credit will be given for each semester hour earned, and a total of 16
				credit hours will be allowed for each full academic year of study.
(b) Research in lieu of training. Credit will
				be given only for full-time research. Sixteen credit hours will be given for
				each full year of research.
(c)
				Teaching. One credit hour is allowed for each education hour of teaching of
				board-approved continuing education courses.
(d) Continuing education courses. See §
									275.1(b)
				of this title (relating to General Requirements).
(e) Clinical rotations or rounds. One hour of
				continuing education credit will be given for each two clock hours spent on
				clinical rounds, for a maximum of four hours per calendar year. Beginning with
				the 2023 license renewal, credit will be given for a maximum of eight hours of
				clinical rotations or rounds hours taken during the two-year period preceding
				license renewal. Sponsoring organizations and universities must submit
				information regarding scheduled rounds and certify to the board at least on a
				quarterly basis the number of continuing education hours obtained.
(f) Credit will be given for a maximum of
				eight hours of the combined total of correspondence course hours and on-line
				computer course hours per calendar year. Beginning with the 2023 license
				renewal, credit will be given for a maximum of 16 hours of the combined total
				of correspondence course hours and on-line computer course hours taken during
				the two-year period preceding license renewal. On-line computer courses are
				those courses described in §
									275.1(b)(8)
				of this title. Correspondence courses must be sponsored and graded by
				accredited optometry colleges.
(g)
				Requirements for renewal of license imposed by other state law. A licensee that
				fails to timely meet these requirements may not renew the license.
(1) Two-hour controlled substances
				prescribing course. Section
				481.07635 of
				the Health and Safety Code requires each active optometric glaucoma specialist
				licensed prior to September 1, 2020, to complete two hours of continuing
				education related to approved procedures of prescribing and monitoring
				controlled substances on or before September 1, 2021. Each active optometric
				glaucoma specialist licensed after September 1, 2020, must complete the
				continuing education required by this subsection within one year of the initial
				optometric glaucoma specialist license date. Licensees will receive two credit
				hours upon submission of written proof of completion of the approved course.
				This is a one-time education requirement. The taking of board-approved courses
				described in this subsection in subsequent years may satisfy the professional
				responsibility requirement of §
										275.1(b)
				of this title.
(2) One-hour opioid
				prescribing course. To renew a license for 2021 and subsequent years, §
										481.0764
				of the Health and Safety Code requires all active licensees who prescribe or
				dispense opioids to take each year a one-hour board-approved continuing
				education course covering best practices, alternative treatment options, and
				multi-modal approaches to pain management that may include physical therapy,
				psychotherapy, and other treatments. Licensees will receive one credit hour
				upon submission of written proof of completion of the approved
				course.
(3) One-hour human
				trafficking course. Not later than January 1, 2021, all active licensees who
				provide direct patient care must submit proof of completion of a one-hour human
				trafficking course approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission
				as required by §
										116.002
				of the Occupations Code. Commencing effective January 1, 2022, all active
				licensees who provide direct patient care shall complete one-hour of human
				trafficking continuing education prior to each biennial renewal as required by
				§
										116.003
				of the Occupations Code. The courses taken to satisfy the human trafficking
				requirement shall include information on identifying and assisting victims of
				human trafficking and be approved by the Texas Health and Human Services
				Commission.