The 2011- 2012 Continuing Education Requirements for Florida Opticians*

ABO/NCLE Requirements

 

Florida Opticians are required to attend 20 hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license. The current biennium started January 1, 2011 and will end December 31, 2012.

The current continuing education requirements for this biennium are as follows:

A. Laws & Rules:

Two (2) hours must be on Florida laws & administrative rules governing the profession.

B. Technical:

At least eleven (11) hours shall be directly relating to the technical profession of Opticianry (i.e. dispensing, contact lens, etc.). Board Certified Opticians shall receive at least four (4) hours in contact lens theory and practice.

C. Reduction of Medical Errors:

Two (2) hours on and shall include a study of root-cause analysis, error reduction and prevention, and patient safety.

D. Electives COURSES:

Five (5) hours may be on any of the listed topic (A, B or E) or may be in a management, sales, stress management , risk management or marketing related topic.

E. AIDS/HIV Education:

One (1) hour AIDS/HIV training will now only be required for newly licensed opticians during their intitial renewal that CEs are required.

 

Initially Licensed Opticians (for first renewal only)

Opticians initially licensed in the first year of biennium (2011) are required to complete ten (10) hours of CE for their first licensure renewal, which must include one (1) hour of HIV/AIDS education with a maximum of 2.5 hours from courses without classroom instruction.

5 hours must be directly related to the technical practice of opticianry

1 hour of HIV/AIDS education

2 hours must relate to the prevention of medical errors

2 hours of electives from the first 2 areas above or subjects relating to business management

A maximum of 2.5 hours of CE may be from courses without classroom instruction.

Opticians initially licensed in the second year of biennium (2012) are not required to complete CE requirements for the first licensure renewal. (License must expire same year it was issued for this to apply)

 

ALSO NOTE:

All credit hours must be earned within the biennium for which they are claimed.

Do not send CE information to the Board office. Licensees are required to retain continuing education documentation for four years. Audits will be conducted at random to insure compliance with continuing education requirements.

 

*This is a summary only - Please consult rule 64B12-15.003 of the Florida Administrative Code, Standards For Continuing Education. For additional information, contact:

The Florida Board of Opticianry
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C08
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3258
Phone (850) 245-4474

>> Visit the Board's website