Updating license as Optometrist

[MTD52]

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Hi guys, I just joined and this is my first post here. I was wondering, how often do Optometrists have to take tests and/or update their license and how difficult are they?

Thanks.

 

[JMU07]

It probably varies by state. I don't know much about it, and I don't know that there are tests you have to take, but you do have to do a certain amount of continuing education hours every year.

 

[MTD52]

It probably varies by state. I don't know much about it, and I don't know that there are tests you have to take, but you do have to do a certain amount of continuing education hours every year.

Yeah that's what I meant, I just don't know what that really means. I read it briefly somewhere, but couldn't find any elaboration on it.

Can anyone else help out with the continuing education details?

 

[r_salis]

Yeah that's what I meant, I just don't know what that really means. I read it briefly somewhere, but couldn't find any elaboration on it.

Can anyone else help out with the continuing education details?

It varies state by state, but as an example New York State requires 36 hours of continuing ed credits every 3 years. Every credit is 1 hour of classroom/lecture time from an approved sponsor. A lot of people get their CE credits at conventions, which offer easy "one-stop" shopping for many credits over a couple days time. Each state's licensing requirements spell out which subjects are allowed for credit, as well as whether courses can be taken on-line vs. in person (NYS does not allow on-line courses unless they are live-video, i.e. you can interact with the course presenter).

 

[MTD52]

It varies state by state, but as an example New York State requires 36 hours of continuing ed credits every 3 years. Every credit is 1 hour of classroom/lecture time from an approved sponsor. A lot of people get their CE credits at conventions, which offer easy "one-stop" shopping for many credits over a couple days time. Each state's licensing requirements spell out which subjects are allowed for credit, as well as whether courses can be taken on-line vs. in person (NYS does not allow on-line courses unless they are live-video, i.e. you can interact with the course presenter).

Great. Thanks for the info 🙂. Does anyone know the requirement for NJ specifically? I found online that it is 50 credits every two years, but information like that is always changing and I'd rather hear from an actual person who knows than a website.

 

[EyeBaller]

If the place you found online is here http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/optometry/CEcredit.htm then that's the ONLY place you should trust. Direct from the NJ State board.

For any state you are interested in go to the state board website and you can usually find the CE requirements. List of state boards is here http://www.arbo.org/index.php?action=arboDirectoryOfBoards.