Purpose and scope. The purpose of continuing education is to ensure the continued high quality of services provided by licensed dispensing opticians. Continuing education consists of programs of learning which contribute directly to the advancement or enhancement of skills in the field of opticianry, designed to keep the licensed dispensing opticians 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. 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) Courses offered by the following organizations are presumed to qualify as continuing education courses. The secretary reserves the 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:

(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.