Ohio § 4725.16

§ 4725.16.

(A)(1) Each certificate of licensure for the practice of optometry issued by the state vision

professionals board shall expire on the last day of December of each even-numbered

year, and may be renewed in accordance with this section and the standard renewal

procedure established under Chapter 4745. of the Revised Code. (2) An optometrist seeking to continue to practice optometry shall file with the board

an application for license renewal.  The application shall be in such form and require such pertinent professional biographical

data as the board may require. (3)(a) Except as provided in division (A)(3)(b) of this section, in the case of an optometrist

seeking renewal who prescribes or personally furnishes analgesic controlled substances

authorized pursuant to section 4725.091 of the Revised Code that are opioid analgesics, as defined in section 3719.01 of the Revised Code , the optometrist shall certify to the board whether the optometrist has been granted

access to the drug database established and maintained by the state board of pharmacy

pursuant to section 4729.75 of the Revised Code . (b) The requirement in division (A)(3)(a) of this section does not apply if any of the

following is the case: (i) The state board of pharmacy notifies the state vision professionals board pursuant

to section 4729.861 of the Revised Code that the license holder has been restricted from obtaining further information from

the drug database. (ii) The state board of pharmacy no longer maintains the drug database. (iii) The license holder does not practice optometry in this state. (c) If an optometrist certifies to the state vision professionals board that the optometrist

has been granted access to the drug database and the board finds through an audit

or other means that the optometrist has not been granted access, the board may take

action under section 4725.19 of the Revised Code . (B) All licensed optometrists shall complete continuing education in subjects relating

to the practice of optometry, to the end that the utilization and application of new

techniques, scientific and clinical advances, and the achievements of research will

assure comprehensive care to the public.  The board shall prescribe by rule the continuing optometric education that licensed

optometrists must complete.  The length of study shall be fifty clock hours each biennial licensing period, including

twenty clock hours of instruction in pharmacology to be completed by all licensed

optometrists. Unless the continuing education required under this division is waived or deferred

under division (D) of this section, the continuing education must be completed during

the biennial licensing period beginning on the first day of January of each odd-numbered

year and ending on the last day of December of each even-numbered year.  If the board receives notice from a continuing education program indicating that

an optometrist completed the program after the last day of December of an even-numbered

year, and the optometrist wants to use the continuing education completed after that

day to renew the license, the optometrist shall pay the penalty specified under section 4725.34 of the Revised Code for late completion of continuing education. At least once annually, the board shall post on its web site and shall mail, or send

by electronic mail, to each licensed optometrist a list of courses approved in accordance

with standards prescribed by board rule.  Upon the request of a licensed optometrist, the executive director of the board

shall supply a list of additional courses that the board has approved subsequent to

the most recent web site posting, electronic mail transmission, or mailing of the

list of approved courses. (C)(1) Not later than the first day of November of each even-numbered year, the board shall

mail or send by electronic mail a notice regarding license renewal to each licensed

optometrist who may be eligible for renewal.  The notice shall be sent to the optometrist's most recent electronic mail or mailing

address shown in the board's records.  If the board knows that the optometrist has completed the required continuing optometric

education for the biennium, the board may include with the notice an application for

license renewal. (2) Filing a license renewal application with the board shall serve as notice by the

optometrist that the continuing optometric education requirement has been successfully

completed.  If the board finds that an optometrist has not completed the required continuing

optometric education, the board shall disapprove the optometrist's application.  The board's disapproval of renewal is effective without a hearing, unless a hearing

is requested pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. (3) The board shall refuse to accept an application for renewal from any applicant whose

license is not in good standing or who is under disciplinary review pursuant to section 4725.19 of the Revised Code . (4) Notice of an applicant's failure to qualify for renewal shall be served upon the

applicant by mail to the applicant's last address shown in the board's records. (D) In cases of certified illness or undue hardship, the board may waive or defer for

up to twelve months the requirement of continuing optometric education, except that

in such cases the board may not waive or defer the continuing education in pharmacology

required to be completed by optometrists.  The board shall waive the requirement of continuing optometric education for any

optometrist who is serving on active duty 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 or who has received an initial

certificate of licensure during the nine-month period which ended on the last day

of December of an even-numbered year. (E) An optometrist whose renewal application has been approved may renew the license

held by paying to the treasurer of state the fee for renewal specified under section 4725.34 of the Revised Code .  On payment of all applicable fees, the board shall issue a renewal of the optometrist's

certificate of licensure. (F) Not later than the fifteenth day of January of each odd-numbered year, the board

shall mail or send by electronic mail a second notice regarding license renewal to

each licensed optometrist who may be eligible for renewal but did not respond to the

notice sent under division (C)(1) of this section.  The notice shall be sent to the optometrist's most recent electronic mail or mailing

address shown in the board's records.  If an optometrist fails to file a renewal application after the second notice is

sent, the board shall send a third notice regarding license renewal prior to any action

under division (I) of this section to classify the optometrist's license as expired. (G) The failure of an optometrist to apply for license renewal or the failure to pay

the applicable renewal fee on or before the date of expiration, shall automatically

work a forfeiture of the optometrist's authority to practice optometry in this state. (H) The board shall accept renewal applications and renewal fees that are submitted from

the first day of January to the last day of January of the odd-numbered year next

succeeding the date of expiration.  An individual who submits such a late renewal application or fee shall pay the late

renewal fee specified in section 4725.34 of the Revised Code . (I)(1) If the date of expiration of a certificate of licensure issued by the board to an

individual has passed and the individual has not filed a complete application during

the late renewal period, the individual's certificate of licensure shall be classified

in the board's records as expired. (2) Any optometrist whose certificate of licensure has been classified as expired may

submit an application to the board for reinstatement.  For reinstatement to occur, the applicant must meet all of the following conditions: (a) Submit to the board evidence of compliance with board rules requiring continuing

optometric education in a sufficient number of hours to make up for any delinquent

compliance; (b) Pay the renewal fees for the biennium in which application for reinstatement is made; (c) Pass all or part of the licensing examination accepted by the board under section 4725.11 of the Revised Code as the board considers appropriate to determine whether the application for reinstatement

should be approved; (d) If the applicant has been practicing optometry in another state or country, submit

evidence that the applicant's license to practice optometry in the other state or

country is in good standing. (3) The board shall approve an application for reinstatement if the conditions specified

in division (I)(2) of this section are met.  An optometrist who receives reinstatement is subject to the continuing education

requirements specified under division (B) of this section for the year in which reinstatement

occurs.