(a)    In addition to any other qualifications and requirements established by the Board, the Board shall establish continuing education requirements as a condition to the renewal of licenses and certificates under this title.

(b)    (1)    The continuing education required by the Board shall be in courses approved by the Board.

(2)    The Board may not require a nontherapeutically certified optometrist to attend more than 50 hours in any licensing period.

(3)    The Board shall require a therapeutically certified optometrist to attend at least 50 hours of continuing education in a licensing period.

(4)    (i)    In each licensing period, a therapeutically certified optometrist shall attend 30 hours of continuing education on the use and management of therapeutic pharmaceutical agents.

(ii)    The 30 hours of continuing education required under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall be counted toward the total number of required hours of continuing education in a licensing period.

(c)    At the time a licensee applies for license renewal, the licensee shall submit to the Board, on a form provided by the Board, a certification that the licensee has attended the required courses.

(d)    The Board may refuse to renew the license of a licensee who has failed:

(1)    To attend the required courses; or

(2)    To submit certification of attendance at the required courses.

(e)    The Board may waive the continuing education requirements in cases of illness or other undue hardship on the licensee.

(f)    The Board may use any funds allocated to it for continuing education as State funds to match federal funds for providing continuing education.