Board to seek legal opinion on whether state association–approved optometry continuing education counts for Connecticut license renewal

The Connecticut Board of Optometry discussed a request from the Connecticut Association of Optometrists asking whether continuing-education courses approved by that association would count toward Connecticut license renewal.

Board member Dr. Joe Pavano read a letter from the association’s executive director asking for “clarification regarding approved education requirements for licensing renewal” and noting that qualifying CE "include, but are not limited to, courses offered or approved by the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education ... the American Optometric Association, or ... state or local optometry associations" (excerpted). Pavano said the CAO and its academic committee would like confirmation that CAO-approved CE would count for Connecticut renewals.

The request prompted procedural discussion about whether the board could decide the question immediately or should refer it for legal review. Aiden Baum, counsel to the board, recommended a formal referral: “If you'd like to forward that letter to the chair liaison, the chair liaison would be able to send it to the hearing office who would be able to take a closer look at this.”

Board members agreed to have the letter sent to the liaison and placed on a future agenda so staff and legal counsel could review the statutory language and allow interested parties to appear. At the meeting Dr. Pavano said he would forward the letter to the state Department of Public Health and arrange for the item to be put on the next meeting agenda.

The transcript shows board members also reviewed routine business — approving minutes and setting upcoming meeting dates — and then adjourned. The CE-approval question will return to a future meeting after review by the hearing office and DPH, according to counsel’s recommendation.

Votes at a glance - Motion to accept the minutes of the last meeting — moved by Susan Barrett; second not specified in the record; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Motion to allow Dr. Joe Pavano to add the CAO letter as new business — mover not specified in the record; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Motion to adjourn — mover and second not specified in the record; outcome: approved by voice vote.