Sec. 351.308. CONTINUING EDUCATION. (a) An optometrist or therapeutic optometrist must take annual courses in subjects relating to the use and application of scientific, technical, and clinical advances in subjects relating to the practice of optometry or therapeutic optometry regularly taught in recognized optometric universities and schools, including:

(1) vision care;

(2) vision therapy; and

(3) visual training.

(b) An optometrist or therapeutic optometrist must complete 16 hours of study each calendar year, of which at least six hours must be in the diagnosis or treatment of ocular disease.

(c) An optometrist or therapeutic optometrist shall fulfill the continuing education requirements by attending continuing education courses sponsored by an accredited college of optometry or a course approved by the board. Course attendance must be certified to the board on a form approved by the board. The license holder shall submit the certification with the license renewal application and fee.

(d) The board may take action necessary to qualify for federal funds or grants made available to establish or maintain continuing education programs.

(e) The board may not issue a renewal certificate to a license holder who has not complied with the requirements of this section unless the license holder:

(1) provides the board with evidence acceptable to the board that the license holder has, since the license expiration, completed sufficient hours of approved continuing education courses to satisfy any deficiency for the previous year; and

(2) pays to the board in addition to the license renewal fee a penalty that is equal to the amount of the license renewal fee.

(f) Continuing education hours used by a license holder to satisfy a deficiency for the previous year under Subsection (e)(1) may not be used to satisfy the requirements for the year in which the hours are earned.

Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.