Indiana Optometry CE Requirements
Continuing Education Requirements for the April 1, 2026 Renewal
Please visit the Indiana Optometry Board's website for continuing education requirements.
Optometrist licenses and legend drug certificates are required to be renewed by April 1, 2026, a process that is regulated by the Indiana Optometry Board (IOB).
HOW MANY HOURS DO I NEED?
Indiana ODs are required to have completed twenty (20) hours of continuing education for their optometry license and twenty (20) hours of continuing education if they hold an optometric legend drug certificate.
Licenses can be renewed through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency website: https://mylicense.in.gov/eGov/ML1PLA.html
I RECEIVED MY OPTOMETRY LICENSE BETWEEN THE DATES OF APRIL 1, 2024, AND APRIL 1, 2025. WHAT ARE MY CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS?
An OD who was issued an original optometry license between the dates of April 1, 2024 and April 1, 2025, is only required to submit ten (10) hours of continuing education to renew their optometry license. ODs who are issued an original optometric legend drug certificate between the dates of April 1, 2024 and April 1, 2025, are required to submit ten (10) hours of continuing education to renew their optometric legend drug certificate.
I RECEIVED MY ORIGINAL OPTOMETRY LICENSE AFTER APRIL 1, 2025. WHAT ARE MY CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS?
An OD who is issued an original optometry license after April 1, 2025, is not required to submit continuing education for the April 1, 2026, renewal. An OD who is issued an optometric legend drug certificate after April 1, 2025, is not required to have continuing education for the April 1, 2026, renewal.
ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL CE REQUIREMENTS?
ODs are no longer required, but may (optional), as part of the twenty (20) hour requirement, to complete two (2) hours of continuing education in any of the following areas:
Medical charting, billing and coding, healthcare compliance, or compliance with federal or Indiana state laws or regulations.
Generally, the IOB does not accept practice management courses for continuing education credit. However, courses which are approved by the board or the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE) in the area of jurisprudence and medical recordkeeping will be accepted and are not considered practice management courses.
ODs may earn up to eight (8) hours of CE credits for interoffice, hospital, or surgery center observations of another practitioner in the provision of optometric or ophthalmological procedures. ODs must submit the observation event for board approval thirty (30) days after the event and include extensive outline and timeline of patients observed or participatory procedures.
I HAVE A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES REGISTRATION. WHAT DO I NEED FOR RENEWAL?
To renew your CSR, ensure your optometry license is active, complete the online application, and pay the $60.00 fee. You will receive a renewal notice at least 90 days before expiration, and if you apply on or after July 1, 2025, you will not be required to provide proof of opioid continuing education.
HOW MANY HOURS CAN I CLAIM FOR ONLINE OR VIRTUAL CE?
Indiana law limits self-study continuing education for an optometry license and optometric legend drug certificate renewal to a total of ten (10) hours biennially. Self-study CE must include an examination or post-evaluation in order to qualify for credit.
WHAT IS SELF-STUDY CONTINUING EDUCATION?
Self-study includes:
Journals and books
Audiotapes
Films and videotapes
Internet online
Closed circuit television
Sateliite broadcasts
Correspondence courses
CD-ROM
DVD
Teleconferencing
Videoconferencing
Distance learning
CE must be sponsored by an approved organization, such as IOA, COPE, a university, or the program must be specifically approved by the Indiana Optometry Board.
Self-study CE must include a written examination or post evaluation, with a passing score of 70%.
DOES CE HAVE TO BE COPE APPROVED IN INDIANA?
No, Indiana law does not require courses to be COPE approved to count for continuing education credit.
I TOOK A LIVE COPE COURSE ONLINE. DOES THIS COUNT AS CE CREDIT?
As long as this course was presented by an approved provider and included a post-test, it will count as CE credit. Indiana law requires any online program to include a post-test. The majority of streamed courses do not meet this requirement. Live online courses are considered self-study and the ten hour limit applies.
HOW CAN I TELL IF A COURSE QUALIFIES FOR LEGEND DRUG CERTIFICATE CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT?
As previously noted, COPE approval is not required for continuing education credit in Indiana. However, all courses must be provided by an approved provider or approved by the IOB. The IOB rules include information on what type of courses qualify for legend drug (therapeutics) continuing education. According to the rules of the IOB, the following subject matter areas are approved for legend drug or therapeutic continuing education:
(1) Glaucoma (GL).
(2) Perioperative management of ophthalmic surgery (PO).
(3) Refractive surgery management (RS).
(4) Treatment and management of ocular disease: anterior segment (AS). May also be referred to as treatment and management of ocular disease (TD)
(5) Treatment and management of ocular disease: posterior segment (PS). May also be referred to as treatment and management of ocular disease (TD)
(6) Pharmacology (PH).
(7) Systemic and ocular disease (SD).
(8) Oral pharmaceutical (OP).
(9) Injection skills (IS).
(10) Laser procedure (LP).
(11) Surgery procedures (SP).
(12) Other COPE courses approved by the board.
Licenses can be renewed through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency website: https://mylicense.in.gov/eGov/ML1PLA.html
The Indiana Optometry Board's continuing education requirements can be found here: