FIND CE TO FULFILL REQUIREMENTS, MEET YOUR BUDGET AND FIT YOUR SCHEDULE

GETTING ENOUGH quality CE to fulfil your state license requirements can be tough. Fitting it into your budget and schedule are two obstacles.

Here is some CE to look into to overcome these obstacles. However, please visit your state board for specific requirements.

1 ONLINE COURSES

Many online courses are free or have a minimal fee. (Identify these in your area through optometry schools.) Online courses are a great way to get CE at a time that’s convenient for you. Again, consult your state board for specific requirements for you; some states can have as many as six hours of online CE.

2 ON-SITE COURSES

Ophthalmology groups may sponsor CE on topics, such as medical optometry and LASIK, at no charge. It is a great marketing tool for the M.D.’s office and a way to provide education to optometrists.

These courses offer information about pre- and post-surgical procedures in relation to your practice. They also provide you an opportunity to garner further understanding on surgical procedures to explain to the patient.

In my experience, these events are usually later in the evening to accommodate working O.D.s. But, if you have a large office, a CE event may be hosted at your office at a time that you find more convenient. This instance is often sponsored by industry, and free to the O.D. Courses may or may not be certified for credit through your state board.

3 REGIONAL CE

Opportunities for regional CE events exist in most states, whether private or through a local optometric society.

Many corporate optical entities will sponsor CE for their O.D.s. Check with your corporate entities to identify these in your area.

Courses via local optometric societies can be offered during the morning work week where you can squeeze in three hours in the morning, and go to work after, or at night. The popular Sunday courses allow for eight hours to be completed. Being involved with the CE committee in your state association can help you to identify the best times and days that work for you. These courses cost an fee in addition to dues. The cost will vary with location.

4 TRADE SHOWS

Industry events and conferences also offer CE — for example, Vision Expo, offered twice a year and in two locations. The cost for these include your entrance to the show. (Look for early registration deals as one possible way to cut costs.)

Industry events offer the opportunity to incorporate a vacation with the CE, which many O.D.s love doing. The show floor and CE courses can also be a chance to talk to vendors about their products or new services for your business and to network with other O.D.s, respectively. Use these networking opportunities to develop partnerships with O.D.s in your area, whom you may then work with to provide coverage as future CE opportunities arise.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OFFERINGS

Many different opportunities are available to take advantage of free or convenient CE. Plan accordingly, and you won’t have a problem with your busy corporate optometry schedule. OM

DR. SAMPALIS, is affiliated with For Eyes by Grand Vision. Dr. Sampalis is a practice management consultant, the founder of Corporate Optometry on Facebook and founder of corporateoptometrycareers.com and corporateoptometry.com . She can be reached at msampalis@hotmail.com.