20:50:08:01.  Continuing education requirements. To be eligible for the renewal of the initial license to practice in this state and for each annual renewal thereafter, an optometrist must complete 45 hours of continuing education as defined in SDCL 36-7-20.1 and 36-7-20.4 within each three-year period after the date of initial licensure. The board shall make at least 12 hours of continuing education courses available each year.

          Those optometrists certified to use pharmaceutical agents for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes must complete 5 hours annually of continuing pharmaceutical education in the area of diagnosis and treatment of ocular disease to be eligible for renewal of certification. The 5 hours of annual pharmaceutical education count toward the 45 hours required each three years.

          Source: SL 1975, ch 16, § 1; 6 SDR 66, effective January 8, 1980; 12 SDR 151, 12 SDR 155, effective July 1, 1986; 13 SDR 44, effective October 20, 1986; 15 SDR 40, effective September 13, 1988; 17 SDR 199, effective June 30, 1991; 21 SDR 35, effective August 30, 1994; 31 SDR 101, effective January 19, 2005; 37 SDR 133, effective January 18, 2011.

          General Authority: SDCL 36-7-15(4), 36-7-15.1.

          Law Implemented: SDCL 36-7-15.1, 36-7-20, 36-7-20.1, 36-7-20.2, 36-7-20.4.