Individuals must provide proof of 50 continuing education credits. Credits must be earned within the credentialing cycle.
Continuing education credits are divided into the below three sections.
Category A: Eyecare
Ophthalmic-specific management programs/courses, as well as technical and medical courses.*
COEs must submit a minimum of 25 hours in Category A per three‐year credential period. There are no maximum limitations in this category.
All Category A activities yield a 1:1 credit ratio of hours spent to hours earned.
Category B: General Management/College Courses
There are no minimum or maximum limitations in this category.
All category B activities yield a 1:1 credit ratio of hours spent‐to‐hours earned.
Category C: Miscellaneous
Activities must be within the 6 COE content areas (general ophthalmic knowledge, financial management, operations, information technology management, human resources, risk management & regulatory compliance).
COEs may submit up to 18 hours in Category C per three‐year credential period.
Category C activity credit ratios depend on the specific activity. See the COE recertification guidelines for a full breakdown of activities and credit rations.
Please Note:
Those who do not recertify during the standard cycle may do so within a three-year grace period using alternative criteria. The number of required continuing education hours increases for each year past expiration:
1 year past expiration: 68 hours (50 base + 18 additional)
2 years past expiration: 84 hours (50 base + 34 additional)
3 years past expiration: 100 hours (50 base + 50 additional)
These requirements apply to each respective year beyond the original certification period. An additional $100 fee is required for recertifying outside of the regular cycle.
Individuals who do not complete the required continuing education hours within this three-year period, and who choose not to retake the COE Exam, may no longer use the COE designation.
*Courses related to clinical patient care taught by industry device manufacturers or pharmaceutical companies are not eligible for COE credit.