(A)

(1) Each license issued under sections 4725.40 to 4725.59 of the Revised Code shall expire on the first day of January in the year after it was issued. Each person holding a valid, current license may apply to the state vision professionals board for the extension of the license under the standard renewal procedures of Chapter 4745. of the Revised Code. Each application for renewal shall be accompanied by a renewal fee the board shall establish by rule. In addition, except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, the application shall contain evidence that the applicant has completed continuing education within the immediately preceding one-year period as follows:

(a) Licensed spectacle dispensing opticians shall have pursued both of the following, approved by the board:

(i) Four hours of study in spectacle dispensing;

(ii) Two hours of study in contact lens dispensing.

(b) Licensed contact lens dispensing opticians shall have pursued eight hours of study in contact lens dispensing, approved by the board.

(c) Licensed spectacle-contact lens dispensing opticians shall have pursued both of the following, approved by the board:

(i) Four hours of study in spectacle dispensing;

(ii) Eight hours of study in contact lens dispensing.

(d) Licensed ocularists shall have pursued courses of study as prescribed by rule of the board.

(2) An application for the initial renewal of a license issued under sections 4725.40 to 4725.55 of the Revised Code is not required to contain evidence that the applicant has completed the continuing education requirements of division (A)(1) of this section.

(B) No person who fails to renew the person's license under division (A) of this section shall be required to take a qualifying examination under section 4725.48 of the Revised Code as a condition of renewal, provided that the application for renewal and proof of the requisite continuing education hours are submitted within ninety days from the date the license expired and the applicant pays the annual renewal fee and a penalty of seventy-five dollars. The board may provide, by rule, for an extension of the grace period for licensed dispensing opticians who are serving in the armed forces of the United States or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the Ohio national guard or the national guard of any other state and for waiver of the continuing education requirements or the penalty in cases of hardship or illness.

(C) The board shall approve continuing education programs and shall adopt rules as necessary for approving the programs. The rules shall permit programs to be conducted either in person or through electronic or other self-study means. Approved programs shall be scheduled, sponsored, and conducted in accordance with the board's rules.

(D) Any license given a grandfathered issuance or renewal between March 22, 1979, and March 22, 1980, shall be renewed in accordance with this section.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 49, §130.11, eff. 1/21/2018.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 64, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2015.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 258, §1, eff. 3/23/2015.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 45, HB 98, §1, eff. 11/15/2013.

Effective Date: 07-20-1994 .