La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § LI-303
Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024
Section LI-303 - Continuing Education Requirement for Controlled Dangerous SubstancesA. Scope of Rule. This rule provides for the one-time continuing education (CE) requirement for controlled dangerous substances prerequisite to license renewal of an authorized prescriber, definitions and the procedures applicable to approved/qualifying CE, credit for satisfaction, documentation, non-compliance, an exception and conflict resolution with other CE rules of this Part.B. Definitions. As used in this §303, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings specified. Authorized Prescriber-an optometrist whose scope of practice includes authority to prescribe, dispense, or administer CDS.
Board-the Louisiana State Board of Optometry Examiners, as constituted under R.S. 37:1041 et seq.
Controlled Dangerous Substances or CDS-any substance defined, enumerated or included in federal or state statute or regulations 21 CFR. §1308 11-.15 or R.S. 40:964, or any substance which may hereafter be designated as a controlled substance by amendment or supplementation of such regulations and statute.
C. Continuing Education Requirements 1. Notwithstanding any other provision, including, but not limited to, §301.A.1 pertaining to the requirement for obtaining a minimum of 10 hours of continuing education credit in a classroom setting, every authorized prescriber seeking the renewal of a license on and after January 1, 2019, shall, as part of the continuing education requirement by this part, and as a condition prerequisite to licensure renewal, successfully complete three credit hours of continuing education approved by the board on CDS prescribing practices, all of which may be taken through online courses approved by the board. Such continuing education shall include instruction relating to drug diversion training, best practices regarding prescribing of CDS, appropriate treatment for addiction and any other matters regarding the prescribing of CDS that are deemed appropriate by the board. The continuing education requirement may be satisfied by completing a continuing education program consisting of at least three credit hours approved by the board. Successful completion of this requirement once shall satisfy the requirement in full.2. An optometrist with prescription authority in Louisiana for CDS shall be exempt from the continuing education requirement for renewal of his/her license to practice optometry if he/she completes and submits to the board a certification developed by the board attesting that he has not prescribed, administered or dispensed a CDS during the previous calendar year. The board shall verify the attestation of the prescriber through the prescription monitoring program. The exemption from the continuing education requirement of this subsection shall only be valid for the calendar year to which the attestation applies. If an optometrist obtains an exemption from continuing education requirements under this subsection, the optometrist with a renewed optometry license may prescribe, administer or dispense a CDS during a subsequent renewed optometry license term, but shall not be exempt from continuing education requirements for renewal of a optometry license during such period and, as such, shall obtain three hours of continuing education approved by the board on CDS prescribing practices prior to the expiration of such renewed optometry license term as provided in Paragraph 1 above.3. Information on how to access approved, qualifying continuing education courses will be maintained by the board and made available on its website www.laoptometryboard.com. No license shall be renewed for an individual who fails to comply with the provisions of this Section.4. The continuing education hours required by this section shall be considered among the credit hours required of the prescriber by the board on and after August 1, 2017, and shall not be considered an additional requirement to be met by a prescriber.La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § LI-303
Promulgated by the Department of Health, Board of Optometry Examiners, LR 4624 (1/1/2020).AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:1048.