Continuing Education
Learning is an everyday occurrence. Formal education requires a review to assure minimum learning competencies are met for professional maintenance of the license. Minnesota recognizes the following reviewers and accepts all earned clock hour education from:
- Continuing Optometric Provider Education (COPE)
- State Optometry Boards
- State associations approved by their State Board of Optometry
- AMA for purposes of recognized Category 1 CE
- American Academy of Optometry
- NON-COPE CE must be approved by the Minnesota Board of Optometry
Continuing Education Requirements for License Renewal
The current two-year continuing education cycle is January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2025. The number of continuing education credits you need is pro-rated if you have been licensed within the current continuing education cycle. Use the table below to determine what you need to report. You must report this number of CE credits with your 2025 renewal application.
| Date of Initial License |
Required Number of CE Credits |
| Before January 1, 2024 |
40 CE Credits |
| Between January 1 and December 31, 2024 |
20 CE Credits |
| Between January 1 and December 31, 2025 |
0 CE Credits |
| CE Requirements |
|
Correspondence or Internet (Non-Live)
OE Tracker report definitions for this category as:
A) COPE - online enduring
B)NON-COPE/MN Approved- internet/online
|
Up to 15 CE credits |
| Practice Management |
Up to 6 CE credits |
| Total Required Hours : 40 hours |
Time frame (in years) for CE Requirements: 2 Years
|
The CE sponsors for Minnesota ODs are required to validate the ODs participation in CE by either:
- Requesting course approval from the Council of Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE).
- Requesting course approval from the Minnesota Board of Optometry.
For all methods of CE approval, the sponsor will validate OD participation and send it electronically to the OE Tracker system, which is uploaded in three to five workdays by the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry(ARBO).
OE Tracker and Annual License Renewal Requirements
All licensees should have their OE Tracker CE information synchronize, via your unique OE Tracker number, with your Minnesota license number. This is because of the following:
- By utilizing OE Tracker, you will not be required to keep any paper certificates or enter your individual CE on the MBO website.
- When renewing, the Minnesota OD will be able to review all completed CE for the online renewal
- The used of OE Tracker allows licensees to complete their license renewal in less than five minutes.
The Board believes this to be an efficient approach for all ODs and will reach the goal of 100% auditing of all submitted continuing education.
