CHAPTER 3

 

RENEWAL AND RELICENSURE

 

 

 Section 1. Authority. The Board is authorized under Wyoming Statute 33-23-109(a) and -116 to promulgate rules and regulations related to the application, licensure, and renewal procedures to practice optometry in Wyoming.

 

 Section 2. Annual Licensure Renewal.

 

 (a) Notice. Failure to receive notice for renewal of a license or certificate shall not excuse a licensee from the requirement for renewal under the Act and these Board Rules.

 

 (b) Expiration.

 

  (i) All licenses and certificates shall expire on April 1 of each year. License renewal applications and fees shall be postmarked no later than April 1 to be timely.

 

  (ii) Unless a licensee timely renews their license, the licensee shall not practice after April 1.

 

 (c) Renewal Application. A licensee seeking renewal shall:

 

  (i) Submit a completed renewal application and payment of fee; and

 

  (ii) Submit documentation verifying completion of CE identified in Section 4.

 

 Section 3. Requirements. 

 

 (a) CE Requirements for Renewal. As a condition for renewal, each licensee shall complete a total of forty (40) hours of CE.

 

 (b) Timeframe for Earning CE for Renewal.

 

  (i) The first renewal period begins on January 1st following the date their license was issued. Following the first renewal period, if the license was issued in an even year the licensee shall submit twenty (20) hours of CE. If the license was issued in an odd year the licensee shall submit forty (40) hours of CE.

 

  (ii) CE will be required following the first renewal period and each two (2) calendar years thereafter.

 

  (iii) Only those CE acquired during the CE reporting period will be considered. Duplicate courses taken during a CE reporting period will not be accepted.

 

 (c) The Board shall approve courses related to the practice of optometry offered by the following:

 

  (i) COPE accredited or COPE sponsored;

 

  (ii) AOA;

 

  (iii) AOA recognized state associations;

 

  (iv) American Academy of Optometry;

 

  (v) Schools and colleges of optometry;

 

  (vi) College of Visual Development; and

 

  (vii) Optometric Extension Program and clinical facilities specializing in eye care that are staffed by professors or adjunct professors of optometry or ophthalmology at accredited optometry or medical schools.

 

  (viii) Other courses may be submitted to the Board Office for pre-approval.

 

 (d) Composition of CE.

 

  (i) Licensees authorized to prescribe therapeutic pharmaceuticals shall obtain fifteen (15) hours of the required forty (40) hours of CE in topics addressing ocular systemic therapeusis.

 

  (ii) Licensees shall complete three (3) hours of the required forty (40) hours of CE in topics addressing the responsible prescribing of controlled substances.

 

  (iii) A maximum of six (6) hours of CE in the area of practice management may be applied towards the required forty (40) hours.

 

  (iv) A combined maximum of ten (10) hours of asynchronous CE may be applied toward the required forty (40) hours. CE designated as "live" or synchronous are not subject to this restriction. 

 

  (v) One (1) CE may be earned during each renewal period for passing the Board's jurisprudence examination.

 

 (e) Reporting Requirements.

 

  (i) Licensees shall report their CE through the OE Tracker program.

 

  (ii) Licensees shall be able to furnish copies of any certificates of attendance, letters certifying attendance, transcripts, or any other official documents that serve as proof of CE participation or attendance for at least two (2) years from the date submitted for renewal.

 

  (iii) Proof of attendance shall contain the activity title, date(s), contact hours attended, sponsor, presenter, name of licensee and be signed by the sponsor or the presenter.

 

  (iv) All CE must be posted on the OE Tracker website no later than December 31 of the renewing biennium year. CE posted after December 31 will be assessed a late fee.

 

 (f) Auditing.

 

  (i) CE may be audited by the Board for verification of compliance with these requirements and the Board may disallow any course not meeting the intended CE criteria.

 

  (ii) If the Board disallows any CE hours as a result of an audit, the licensee shall have until March 31 following the CE period to:

 

   (A) Provide further evidence that the disallowed CE hours meet the criteria established by these rules;

 

   (B) Provide evidence of having completed appropriate CE during the required time frame, which may substitute for the disallowance; or

 

   (C) Remedy the disallowance by completing the number of additional CE hours necessary to fulfill the requirements. These additional CE hours shall not be reported on subsequent applications for license renewal.

 

  (iii) Failure to provide the documents requested for audit within thirty (30) days of the date of the request may subject the licensee to disciplinary action.

 

 (g) Waiver. The Board may grant a waiver for CE requirements for licensees who have petitioned and demonstrated just cause based on extenuating circumstances.

 

 Section 4. Reinstatement.

 

 (a)  Failure to timely renew may subject the licensee to disciplinary action for unlicensed practice.

 

 (b)  Reinstatement.

 

  (i) Licensees that failed to timely renew may apply for reinstatement from April 2 to June 30. However, licensees shall not practice until the Board approves their request.

 

  (ii)  Licensees applying for reinstatement shall comply with the requirements in Section 3.

 

  (iii)  If an expired license is not reinstated by June 30, an applicant may seek relicensure.

 

 Section 5. Relicensure.

 

 (a) Eligibility. An applicant may seek relicensure if the applicant has been licensed in Wyoming and either failed to reinstate or is seeking to return to active clinical practice.

 

 (b)  Application Requirements. Applicant shall:

 

  (i)  Submit a completed relicensure application and payment of fee;

 

  (ii)  Demonstrate competency by:

 

   (A) Submitting verification showing completion of twenty (20) hours of CE that meets the requirements in Section 3 for every year the license has been lapsed, not to exceed five (5) years; or

 

   (B)  Submitting verification showing successful completion of parts one (1), two (2), and three (3) of the examination administered by NBEO within the last five (5) years, if not actively practicing within the last five (5) years; and

 

  (iii)  Successfully pass the jurisprudence examination.

 

 Section 6. Reinstatement Subject to Discipline.

 

 (a)  Eligibility. An applicant may seek reinstatement subject to discipline if that license has been revoked, surrendered, suspended, conditioned, or restricted and no longer holds a license.

 

 (b)  Application Reinstatement Requirements. The applicant shall:

 

  (i)  Submit a completed reinstatement subject to discipline application and payment of fee;

 

  (ii)  Submit evidence of complying with the requirements of a previous Board order, if applicable;

 

  (iii)  Submit evidence of applicant's ability to safely and competently practice; and

 

  (iv)  Submit evidence demonstrating just cause for reinstatement subject to discipline.