(1) Licensed optometrists shall complete 36 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years in scientific clinics, forums, or optometric educational studies.

(2) Licensees shall affirm an understanding of their recurring duty to comply with CE requirements as a part of license renewal.

(3) A person who graduates from an accredited school of optometry and becomes a licensee within one year of graduation is excused from the CE requirement during the first applicable CE cycle.

(4) A licensee who is enrolled in a residency program accredited by the ACOE is excused from the CE requirement while the licensee is in the residency program and during the first applicable CE cycle.

(5) The board may randomly audit up to 50 percent of all renewed licensees. It is the responsibility of each optometrist to maintain adequate records of participation and completion, and make them available upon board request.

(a) Random audits will be conducted in odd-numbered years.

(6) Licensees found to be in noncompliance with CE requirements may be subject to administrative suspension.