Oregon Code § 683.210·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
Continuing education requirement; fee; rules.
(1) All optometrists licensed in the State of Oregon
are and shall be required to satisfactorily complete courses of study and
satisfactorily continue their education by other means as determined by the
Oregon Board of Optometry in subjects relating to the practice of the
profession of optometry. The study and continued education shall be for the
purpose of maintaining and advancing the professional skills and abilities of
such licensees and for the purpose of educating such licensees in the
utilization and application of new techniques, scientific and clinical advances
and the achievements of research so that expansive and comprehensive care to
the public will be assured. The length, details and nature of such study and
continued education shall be determined by the board.
(2) Attendance at
any approved courses or other approved means of continuing education are to be
certified to the board upon a form provided by the board and shall be submitted
by each optometrist at the time designated by the board but in any case no less
frequently than once every two years. In addition to other means of providing
such courses and education facilities, the board is authorized to contract for
the providing of educational programs to fulfill the requirements of this
section and ORS 683.140. The board is further authorized to treat funds set
aside for the purpose of continuing education as state funds for the purpose of
accepting any funds made available under federal law on a matching basis for
the promulgation and maintenance of programs of continuing education. In no
instance may the board require a greater number of hours of study than it
provides or approves in the State of Oregon and that are available on the same
basis to all licensed optometrists. The board shall be allowed to waive the
requirements of this section and ORS 683.140 in cases of illness, undue
hardship or other similar appropriate reasons.
(3) The board may
levy an additional fee for each license renewal to carry out the provisions of
this section and ORS 683.140.
(4) After giving
written notice to all licensees and holding a public hearing, the board shall
promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this
section and ORS 683.140. [1973 c.69 §§2,4,5; 1987 c.443 §10; 1997 c.506 §1;
1997 c.643 §30]