64B12-14.004. Board Certification Course Requirements and Course Approval

Applicants for Board Certification must submit with their application proof of satisfactory completion of Board approved courses which meet the requirements of this rule.

(1) The required total course work must consist of 16 classroom hours of instruction and 4 hours of clinical training.

(2) Classroom instruction must include the following components in the specified hours:

(a) 2 hours contact lens theory;

(b) 2 hours pre- and post-fitting customer observation, evaluation and record keeping;

(c) 2 hours customer follow-up care including follow-up care that may be required to be performed by the prescribing optometrist or medical doctor and referral;

(d) 1 hour contact lens solution selection;

(e) 2 hours overview of contact lens induced pathology;

(f) 2 hours ocular surface anatomy;

(g) 2 hours instrument use and maintenance;

(h) 3 hours basic lens fitting.

(3) Clinical Training must be conducted under the direct supervision of the instructor and must include the following components in the specified hours:

(a) 1 hour lens modification;

(b) 1 hour contact lens insertion and removal;

(c) 1 hour observation, evaluation and referral of customers with appropriate record keeping practice; and,

(d) 1 hour actual use of equipment required by Rule 64B12-10.007, F.A.C.

(4) Courses may be taught only by instructors whose qualifications have been approved by the Board, or a committee of the Board appointed by the Chair. Approval must be obtained prior to the course being offered. The following qualifications are required for approval.

(a) Having been a licensed optometrist, ophthalmologist or optician and actively engaged in contact lens fitting for 2 years immediately preceding instructorship, or

(b) Having been actively engaged as a contact lens instructor in an approved school of opticianry, an accredited school of optometry or an accredited medical school.

(5) Instructor-student ratios for classroom instruction must not exceed 40 students to 1 instructor. Instructor-student ratios for clinical experience must not exceed 20 students to 1 instructor.

(6) A course outline shall be submitted to the Board, or a committee of the Board appointed by the Chair, for review to determine the sufficiency of the course in meeting the requirements of this rule, prior to the course receiving Board approval.

(7) Board certification courses may be taken for the purpose of fulfilling continuing education course requirements, but only if they are not taken to obtain Board certification as described herein.

Rulemaking Authority 484.002(6), 484.005(4) FS. Law Implemented 484.002(6), 484.008(3) FS. History–New 7-7-87, Formerly 21P-14.004, 61G13-14.004, 59U-14.004, Amended 11-4-03, 9-4-05.