WAC 246-824-075   Continuing education requirements for dispensing opticians.  Purpose and scope. The purpose of these requirements is to ensure the continued high quality of services provided by the licensed dispensing optician. Continuing education consists of educational activities designed to review existing concepts and techniques and conveys information and knowledge about advances in the field of opticianry, so as to keep the licensed dispensing opticians abreast of current and forecasted developments in a rapidly changing field.

     (1) Basic requirements. Licensed dispensing opticians must complete thirty hours of continuing education every three years as required in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 7.

     (2) Fifteen of the credit hours must relate to contact lenses.

     (3) Qualification of program for continuing education credit. Courses offered by the organizations and methods listed in this section will be presumed to qualify as continuing education courses. The secretary reserves the authority 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. Qualifying organizations and methods for the purposes of this section shall include in-class training, correspondence courses, video and/or audio tapes offered by any of the following:

     (a) American board of opticianry;

     (b) National academy of opticianry;

     (c) Optical laboratories association;

     (d) National contact lens examiners;

     (e) Pacific coast contact lens society;

     (f) Contact lens society of America;

     (g) Opticians association of Washington;

     (h) Opticianry colleges or universities approved by the secretary;

     (i) Speakers sponsored by any of the above organizations;

     (j) Any state or national opticianry association; and

     (k) Additional qualifying organizations or associations as approved by the secretary.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.280. 98-05-060, § 246-824-075, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.17.060 and 18.130.070. 91-09-024 (Order 155), § 246-824-075, filed 4/10/91, effective 5/11/91.]