# Title 56 — Optometry, Board of

## Article 56-02 — Optometrist Licensure

## Chapter 56-02-02 — Continuing Education

### § 56-02-02-01. Continuing educational requirements.

1. The continuing educational requirements in effect through December 31, 2021, are as follows:
every licensee shall have attended, during the three-year period preceding the date of
renewal, fifty classroom hours of optometric educational programs required by North Dakota
Century Code section 43-13-20, hereinafter called educational requirements.
2. The continuing educational requirements that take effect on January 1, 2022, are as follows:
a. Licensees shall submit a renewal application form in December of every year. When
renewing a license in odd-numbered years the board shall confirm the licensee attended,
during the two-year period preceding the date of renewal, no less than forty hours of
optometric educational programs required by North Dakota Century Code section 43-13-
20, hereinafter called educational requirements.
b. Licensees whose initial license was issued by the board during an odd-numbered year
need not submit proof of continuing education when renewing the license in December of
that first year of licensure.
c. Licensees whose initial license was issued by the board during an even-numbered year
shall submit proof of completing twenty hours of continuing education when renewing the
license in December of the subsequent odd-numbered year.
History: Amended effective December 1, 1987; April 1, 1990; November 1, 1997; July 1, 2008;
January 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 43-13-13
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-13-20
### § 56-02-02-02. Compliance with educational requirements.

The required number of hours of educational requirements may be obtained by one or more of the
following methods:
1. Educational programs, clinics, seminars, meetings, or study sessions without or within North
Dakota approved by the state board of optometry. A request for approval for a particular
educational program, clinic, seminar, meeting, or study session must be made to the board at
least thirty days prior to the educational meeting and the board shall either grant or deny its
approval of such educational meeting within a reasonable period of time in advance of such
educational meeting.
2. In situations of extenuating circumstances that result in a hardship and upon receipt by the
board of satisfactory evidence of such circumstances, the board may approve extensions of
the deadlines for meeting educational requirements.
History: Amended effective December 1, 1987; January 1, 1995; January 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 43-13-20
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-13-20

### § 56-02-02-03. Notification by secretary of the board.

Repealed effective December 1, 1987.
### § 56-02-02-04. Categories of educational requirements.

All optometrists licensed in this state must file with the secretary a certification of educational
program compliance with the optometrist's annual license fee on forms which shall be provided by the
secretary. No more than six hours within a two-year reporting cycle may be in practice management.
No more than sixteen hours within a two-year reporting cycle may be earned by means other than in-
person, face-to-face sessions. Submission of proof that a licensee has completed a course on
cardiopulmonary resuscitation approved by the board, and that is deemed by the course provider as
being valid through the two-year reporting cycle, may be accepted as the equivalent of two hours.
History: Amended effective December 1, 1987; January 1, 1995; January 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 43-13-20
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-13-20
### § 56-02-02-05. Secretary to verify compliance.

The secretary, or the secretary's designee, shall verify records of the number of hours which
registered optometrists have credited toward meeting the educational requirements. At least six months
prior to the end of any applicable registration period, the secretary shall give notice to any registered
optometrist who is six or more hours short of meeting the educational requirements for the two-year
period ending on the date of renewal. Such notice must advise the registered optometrist of the number
of hours of optometric educational programs which must be completed within the balance of the
two-year period in order to comply with this section and North Dakota Century Code section 43-13-20.
History: Amended effective December 1, 1987; January 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 43-13-13
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-13-20
