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Ohio Administrative Code (Last Updated: January 12, 2021) |
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4725 Ohio Vision Professional Board |
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Chapter4725-9. Continuing Education |
4725-9-02. Approved optometrist education programs, optician and ocularist education program definitions, approval of a college level program of opticianry
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(A) Approved educational programs include, but are not limited to, those hereinafter listed.
Approval is based on past performances and continued maintenance of acceptable standards and must meet the applicable criteria set forth in rule 4725-9-03 of the Administrative Code.
(1) Educational courses and meetings of the college of optometry at the Ohio state university or any other school or college of optometry accredited by the board.
(2) Educational courses and meetings that are accredited by the accreditation council for continuing medical education.
(3) Educational courses and meetings approved by the council on optometric practitioner education (COPE).
(4) Educational courses and meetings certified/approved by a Canadian province or state board of optometry or its equivalent.
(5) Educational courses and meetings provided for licensed optometrists serving in the active guard, or reserve components of the uniformed services of the United States. Approval shall be based on receipt of a letter from their commanding officer certifying the training meets the applicable requirements of rule 4725-9-03 of the Administrative Code.
(6) Other educational courses and meetings approved by the board as meeting the applicable criteria as set forth in rule 4725-9-03 of the Administrative Code, after submission of one copy of the application for optometric continuing education credit. Requests for approval of continuing education must be submitted by the sponsor and will not be considered if submitted by an individual attendee.
(B) Continuing education program definitions for opticians and ocularists:
(1) "Academic hour" means forty-eight to sixty minutes of continuing education.
(2) "Conference" means the same as "seminar:" a meeting of members for discussing matters of common concern and an exchange of views and information for the purpose of exploring a subject.
(3) "Continuing education" means a planned learning activity that builds upon a licensee's pre-licensure education and apprenticeship which enables the license holder to acquire or improve skills, knowledge, or behavior that promotes professional and technical development and advances the licensee's career goals.
(4) "Program" means the presentation of the approved content of individual courses of a seminar/conference.
(5) "Proof of completion" means a legible copy of the continuing education certificate which verifies that the licensee has satisfactorily completed approved continuing education.
(6) "Sponsor" means the planner of the conference, seminar, or program.
(C) Prior to approval of a college level program of opticianry, the board will consider the following information provided by the program which includes, but is not limited to:
(1) The mission statement of the program which is appropriate for opticianry;
(2) The learning objectives of the program which are competency based, clearly stated and appropriate for opticianry;
(3) The goals of the program which define the end results that students must achieve for graduation.
(4) The written policies for, but not limited to, the following:
(a) Grading and completion requirements;
(b) Maintenance of student records;
(c) Grievance and appeal procedures; and,
(d) Competency-based student clinical practice.
(D) Applicants shall have completed an optical dispensing program at an institution accredited by a regional accreditation organization that is recognized or approved by the United States department of education.
(E) The minimal length of the program for opticianry program shall be two academic years or equivalent and must follow an educationally sound and sequenced plan which documents:
(1) A structured curriculum with a clearly written course syllabi which describe competencies and student learning objectives. The curriculum shall include, but is not limited to courses of study in:
(a) Mathematics;
(b) Science;
(c) English;
(d) Anatomy and physiology of the eye;
(e) Applied optics;
(f) Ophthalmic optics;
(g) Measurement and inspection of lenses,
(h) Lens grinding and edging;
(i) Ophthalmic lens design;
(j) Keratometry; and,
(k) Fitting and adjusting of spectacle lenses and frames and contact lenses, including methods of fitting contact lenses and post-fitting care.
(2) The curriculum may include, but is not limited to, general education content such as:
(a) Behavioral science;
(b) Computer technology;
(c) Business management;
(d) Fabrication techniques;
(e) Dispensing theory;
(f) Ophthalmic terminology;
(g) Prescription analysis;
(h) Production and quality control;
(i) Safety and environmental health; and,
(j) Ethical and legal parameters of practice.
(F) The board may require reports from an approved program of opticianry on a regular basis as determined by the board. The reports shall include, but are not limited to:
(1) The number of students enrolled in the program;
(2) Graduation rates;
(3) Changes in curriculum or faculty;
(4) Other information as required by the board.
(G) Approval of a college level program of opticianry may be withdrawn by the board for the following reasons:
(1) The opticianry program does not continue to meet the minimum curriculum as described in this rule;
(2) The institution/program of opticianry requests withdrawal of approval;
(3) There are no students in the program for two consecutive years; or,
(4) For any valid reason as determined by the board.
(H) For purposes of an approval of a college level program of opticianry, the following definitions apply:
(1) "Board" means the Ohio vision professionals board.
(2) "Competency-based clinical practice" means a supervised practicum of learning experiences in a setting modeled after a retail/professional optical dispensary including a contact lens dispensary.
(3) "Structured curriculum" means a set of courses in opticianry leading to a degree in opticianry.