WSR 15-07-006 PERMANENT RULES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH [Filed March 6, 2015, 2:26 p.m., effective April 6, 2015] Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: WAC 246-824-075 Continuing education requirements for dispensing opticians, opticians now report thirty hours of continuing education every three years. The rule will require a minimum of five hours of continuing education be earned in each year of a three year reporting cycle, with fifteen of the total hours relating to contact lenses. The proposal does not increase the total hourly requirement.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-824-075.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.34.120.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 14-21-154 on October 21, 2014.
A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Judy Haenke, 111 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater, WA 98501, phone (360) 236-4947, fax (360) 236-2901, e-mail judy.haenke@doh.wa.gov.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: March 6, 2015.
Dennis E. Worsham
Deputy Secretary
for John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH
Secretary
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 09-07-023, filed 3/6/09, effective 4/6/09)
WAC 246-824-075 Continuing education requirements for dispensing opticians.
Purpose and scope. The purpose of ((these requirements)) continuing education is to ensure the continued high quality of services provided by ((the)) licensed dispensing opticians. Continuing education consists of ((educational activities designed to review existing concepts and techniques and conveys information and knowledge about advances)) programs of learning which contribute directly to the advancement or enhancement of skills in the field of opticianry, ((so as)) designed to keep the licensed dispensing opticians ((abreast)) informed of current and forecasted developments in a rapidly changing field.
(1) Basic requirements. Licensed dispensing opticians whose three-year continuing education reporting cycle begins on or after June 1, 2015, must complete thirty hours of continuing education every three years as required in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 7. (((2))) Of the thirty hours every three years:
(a) A minimum of five hours must be completed in each of the three years;
(b) At least fifteen of the credit hours must relate to contact lenses.
(2) Approved continuing education courses may be completed through the following methods or activities:
(a) Attendance at a local state or national program;
(b) Self-study through distance learning;
(c) Electronically through webinar or video presentations.
(3) ((Qualification of program for continuing education credit.)) Courses offered by the following organizations ((and methods listed in this section will be)) are presumed to qualify as continuing education courses. The secretary reserves the ((authority)) right to refuse to accept credits in any course if the secretary determines that the course did not provide information sufficient in amount or relevancy to opticianry((. Qualifying organizations and methods for the purposes of this section shall include in-class training, correspondence courses, video and/or audio tapes offered by any of the following)):
(a) American Board of Opticianry;
(b) National Academy of Opticianry;
(c) Optical Laboratories Association;
(d) National Contact Lens Examiners;
(e) Contact Lens Society of America;
(f) Opticians Association of Washington;
(g) Joint Commission of Allied Health
Personnel in Ophthalmology;
(h) Council on Optometric Practitioner Education;
(i) Opticianry colleges or universities approved by the secretary;
(j) Speakers sponsored by any of the above organizations;
(k) Any state or national opticianry association; and
(l) Additional qualifying organizations or associations as approved by the secretary.
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