Continuing Education

The law requires non-TPA licensed doctors of optometry to complete 40 hours of SBO-approved CE every two-year renewal period to renew their license as “Active” status.

TPA-certified optometrists must obtain 50 hours of SBO approved CE every two-year license renewal period, 35 of which must be in the diagnosis, treatment and management of ocular disease in the below areas in any combination:

• • glaucoma,

  • ocular infection,

  • ocular inflammation,

  • topical steroids,

  • systemic medication, 

  • or pain medication.

TPA-certified optometrists must obtain 50 hours of SBO approved CE every two-year license renewal period, 35 of which must be in the diagnosis, treatment and management of ocular disease in the below areas in any combination:

• • glaucoma,

  • ocular infection,

  • ocular inflammation,

  • topical steroids,

  • systemic medication, 

  • or pain medication.

In addition to the CE requirements for TPA-certified doctors of optometry, TPG- and TLG-certified optometrists, i.e., glaucoma certified, are required to complete 10 hours of glaucoma-specific CE every license renewal period. These 10 hours are part of the 35 hours required for the diagnosis, treatment and management of ocular disease.

The SBO accepts a maximum of 25 hours of CE earned through the completion of acceptable, documented and accredited self-study courses. Credit for self-study courses, i.e., review of written, audio or video material, or a combination, is given at the ratio of one hour of credit for one hour of self-study.

As of May 2020, licensees may complete all of their required CE hours using online courses, as set out below. This change is permanent and does not have an end date.

Under current law, live, interactive, and participatory courses provided over an internet platform do not fit within the plain meaning of self-study (i.e. the study of something by oneself, as through books, records, etc., without direct supervision or attendance in a class). Interactive courses offered live over internet platforms such as Zoom, WebEx, BlueJeans, RingCentral or courses being offered by COPE will count towards the 30 hours required of live continuing education course credits.

Conversely, online courses that are recorded and made available for viewing later tend to meet the plain meaning definition of "self-study." These courses are not live, interactive, or participatory. Thus, these courses will not qualify as live courses and would instead qualify as self-study/correspondence courses.

The following optometrists shall be exempt from the CE requirements: 

1. Any licensee serving in the regular armed forces of the United States during any part of the two years immediately preceding the license expiration date. 

2. Any licensee who is renewing an active license for the first time, if they graduated from an accredited school or college of optometry less than one year from the date of initial licensure.