Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 630-X-7 — Continuing Education

630 Alabama Board of Optometry

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-7-.01 Purpose Of Regulation

The purpose of this regulation is to implement the requirement of continuing education as a prerequisite for renewal of license.

History

• Author: Dr. Larry Carter
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-22.
• Filed July 9, 1990. Amended: Filed January 30, 2007; effective February 6, 2007.
• Editor's note: Previous rule (same title) filed September 13, 1982. Repealed: Filed July 9, 1990.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-7-.02 Study Compliance Year

The study compliance year shall be the twelve-month period from October 1 to September 30, immediately preceding the year of licensure. All study hours shall be obtained during that time period except as otherwise provided for in sections 630-X-7-.13 and 630-X-7-.14 of this chapter.

History

• Author: Wallace D. Mills
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-22.
• Filed July 9, 1990. Amended: Filed August 27, 1993; effective October 1, 1993. Amended: Published September 30, 2025; effective November 14, 2025.
• Editor's note: Previous rule (same title) filed September 13, 1982. Repealed: Filed July 9, 1990.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-7-.03 Hours Required

For the study compliance year, 14 hours of continuing education, shall be required for re-licensure the following fiscal year. However, for licensees approved by the Board to use pharmaceutical agents in the treatment of disease of the eye and its adjacent structures, 20 hours of continuing education, of which one-half must be in subjects relating to the diagnosis, treatment, and/or management of disease of the eye and its adjacent structures shall be required for re-licensure the following fiscal year. Changes in study requirements may be made by the Board and in the event of a change, each licensed optometrist shall be notified of the changed requirements on or before November 1 of the study compliance year for which the change is effective. Completion of the study requirements for each study compliance year shall qualify the applicant for license renewal for the following calendar year, if the applicant meets all other requirements.

History

• Author: Dr. Larry Carter
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-22.
• Filed July 9, 1990. Amended: Filed August 28, 1995; effective October 2, 1995. Amended: Filed January 30, 2007; effective February 6, 2007. Amended: Filed February 16, 2008; effective February 20, 2008.
• Editor's note: Previous rule (same title) filed September 13, 1982. Repealed: Filed July 9, 1990.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-7-.04 Required Courses Of Study

Courses of study which will be approved by the Board are those which enhance the professional skill in and knowledge of optometry. Study courses in practice management areas will be accepted for relicensure up to a maximum of 3 hours. Distance education courses will be accepted for relicensure up to a maximum of 3 hours.

History

• Author: Wallace D. Mills
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-22.
• Filed July 9, 1990. Amended: Filed: August 27, 1993; effective October 1, 1993. Amended: Filed November 6, 1998; effective December 11, 1998. Amended: Filed January 30, 2007; effective February 6, 2007. Amended: Filed January 16, 2008; effective February 20, 2008. Amended: Published September 30, 2025; effective November 14, 2025.
• Editor's note: Previous rule (same title) filed September 13, 1982. Repealed: Filed July 9, 1990

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-7-.05 Study Time Requirements

Credit hours for study courses approved by the Board shall be measured in clock hours and shall be equal to the time length of the course rounded to the nearest one-half hour.

History

• Author: Dr. Larry Carter
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-22.
• Filed July 9, 1990. Amended: Filed: August 27, 1993; effective October 1, 1993. Repealed and Replaced with New Rule: Filed August 28, 1995; effective October 2, 1995. Amended: Filed January 30, 2007; effective February 6, 2007. Amended: Filed January 16, 2008; effective February 20, 2008.
• Editor's note: Previous rule (same title) filed September 13, 1982. Repealed: Filed July 9, 1990.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-7-.06 Approval Of Courses

Application for approval may be submitted either by a licensee or by the course sponsor. The Sponsor of a continuing education course must apply for and receive approval before the course is given. A continuing education course previously approved by the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education ("COPE"), or by any other organization recognized for such purpose by Board resolution, does not require separate approval from the Board. A licensee who takes an unapproved continuing education course will bear the burden of establishing that the course satisfied all criteria for Board approval at the time the course was taken. Application for approval of courses shall be in writing and shall set out the course title, brief description of the course content, name of the course sponsor, name(s) of the lecturer(s) and time length of the course. Further information shall be furnished by the applicant upon request of the Board. Course approval may be given by any officer of the board, by a majority of the board members present at any scheduled meeting of the board, or by the executive director of the board. Course approval may be decided at such time as application for renewal of licenses is submitted or at any time prior, upon request of a licensee or course sponsor. Only courses of study so approved will be credited toward continuing education requirements. Each sponsor or licensee requesting approval of a course of study will be notified of Board action in connection therewith, and if the Board disapproves the application, the sponsor or licensee, upon request in writing, will be given an opportunity to appear before the Board on behalf of the application.

History

• Author: Wallace D. Mills
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-22.
• Filed July 9, 1990. Amended: Filed August 27, 1993; effective October 1, 1993. Amended: Filed January 30, 2007; effective February 6, 2007. Amended: Published September 30, 2025; effective November 14, 2025.
• Editor's note: Previous rule (same title) filed September 13, 1982. Repealed: Filed July 9, 1990.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-7-.07 Records Of Attendance

Records of attendance at approved continuing education courses shall be maintained by each licensed optometrist. The course and the number of hours must be listed and it must be signed by the optometrist certifying attendance. Each licensed optometrist must also maintain evidence of verification of attendance by the sponsor. Each licensee is required to maintain all continuing education records of attendance applicable to a study compliance year for thirty-six (36) months following the end of said study compliance year.

History

• Author: Wallace D. Mills
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-22.
• Filed July 9, 1990. Amended: Filed January 30, 2007; effective February 6, 2007. Amended: Published September 30, 2025; effective November 14, 2025.
• Editor's note: Previous rule (same title) filed September 13, 1982. Repealed: Filed July 9, 1990.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-7-.08 Certification Of Completion Of Continuing Education Courses

At the time of license renewal, the licensee shall certify in the manner specified by the board that all continuing education requirements have been completed.

History

• Author: Dr. Larry Carter
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-22.
• Filed July 9, 1990. Amended: Filed August 27, 1993; effective October 1, 1993. Repealed and New Rule: Filed January 30, 2007; effective February 6, 2007.
• Editor's note: Previous rule (same title) filed September 13, 1982. Repealed: Filed July 9, 1990.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-7-.09 Falsification Of Forms

Falsification of an attendance form, or of any application submission, by a sponsor shall be grounds for the Board’s withdrawing and/or denying approval of any or all courses sponsored by said sponsor in connection with any future presentation of said courses. Falsification of an attendance form or record by a licensee shall be grounds for the Board to refuse to approve the continuing education requirements for that licensee for the study compliance year in question and for disciplinary action as provided by law.

History

• Author: Wallace D. Mills
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-22.
• Filed July 9, 1990. Amended: Filed January 30, 2007; effective February 6, 2007. Amended: Published September 30, 2025; effective November 14, 2025.
• Editor's note: Previous rule (same title) filed September 13, 1982. Repealed: Filed July 9, 1990.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-7-.10 Verification/Audit Of Continuing Education Requirements

At the request of the Board for verification and/or audit purposes, a licensee shall produce the continuing education records of attendance maintained in accordance with the requirements of 630-X-7.-07. Failure to have maintained said forms or to produce same upon request of the Board shall be grounds for the Board to find that the licensee has failed to satisfy the continuing education requirements for the study compliance year in question. In addition to verifications and audits based on complaints, reports, or other reasonable suspicions of noncompliance, the secretary-treasurer will annually audit a number of licensees selected at random to assure that continuing education requirements have been met.

History

• Author: Wallace D. Mills
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-22.
• Filed July 9, 1990. Amended: Filed January 30, 2007; effective February 6, 2007. Amended: Published September 30, 2025; effective November 14, 2025.
• Editor's note: Previous rule (same title) filed September 13, 1982. Repealed: Filed July 9, 1990.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-7-.11 Disapproval Of Continuing Education Requirements

If the Board finds that the licensee has not satisfied the continuing education requirements for a study compliance year, the licensee may, upon request in writing, appear before the Board to challenge said finding.

History

• Author: Dr. Larry Carter
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-22.
• Filed July 9, 1990. Repealed and New Rule: Filed January 30, 2007; effective February 6, 2007.
• Editor's note: Previous rule (same title) filed September 13, 1982. Repealed: Filed July 9, 1990. Previous Rule 630-X-7-.11 - Approval Of Continuing Education Requirements was repealed and Rule 630-X-7-.12 was renumbered to 630-X-7-.11 as per certification filed January 30, 2007; effective February 6, 2007

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-7-.12 Hardship

In cases of hardship, or for other good and sufficient reasons, the Board may, in its discretion and upon written request from a licensee, excuse said licensee from the continuing education requirements for license renewal. In such an event, the reasons for such excuse will be set out in detail on the minutes of the meeting of the Board at which such action is taken.

History

• Author: Dr. Larry Carter
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-22.
• Filed July 9, 1990. Amended (Rule Number Only): Filed January 30, 2007; effective February 6, 2007.
• Editor's note: Previous rule (same title) filed September 13, 1982. Repealed: Filed July 9, 1990. Previous rule 630-X-7-.13 was renumbered to .12 as per certification filed January 30, 2007; effective February 6, 2007.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-7-.13 Failure To Comply

Continuing education requirements shall be completed between October 1 and September 30 of each fiscal year prior to the time for license renewal for the next fiscal year. Between October 1 and December 31 of each year, the licensee shall be permitted to complete continuing education requirements which he or she has failed to complete prior to the end of the fiscal year on September 30. Failure by a licensee to certify to the Board compliance with continuing education requirements on or before January 1 shall result in the automatic suspension of said licensee's license and that individual may not practice optometry in any form in the state of Alabama until his or her license is reinstated as set out below.

History

• Author: Fred Wallace
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-22-22, 34-22-23(14), 41-22-19.
• Filed July 9, 1990. Amended: Filed August 28, 1995; effective October 2, 1995. Amended: Filed January 30, 2007; effective February 6, 2007. Amended: Published September 30, 2025; effective November 14, 2025.
• Editor's note: Previous rule 630-X-7-.14 was renumbered to .13 as per certification filed January 30, 2007; effective February 6, 2007.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 630-X-7-.14 Reinstatement After Suspension For Noncompliance With Continuing Education Requirements

A license and/or license certificate suspended for failure to comply with continuing education requirements shall be reinstated only upon the provision of satisfactory evidence to the Board that the continuing education requirements for the one fiscal year next preceding the proposed reinstatement shall have been satisfied and upon payment of all fees required to be paid under this chapter. Said fees shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, all accrued annual registration fees plus a penalty equal to the maximum allowed by this chapter.

History

• Author: Wallace D. Mills
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-22-22.
• Filed July 9, 1990. Amended: Filed August 28, 1995; effective October 2, 1995. Amended: Filed January 30, 2007; effective February 6, 2007. Amended: Published September 30, 2025; effective November 14, 2025.
• Editor's note: Previous rule 630-X-7-.15 was renumbered to .14 as per certification filed January 30, 2007; effective February 6, 2007.