California Optometry (OD) CE requirements

Q: How many CE hours do optometrists need in California?

Optometrists in California must complete 50 CE hours every 2 years. Licenses renew biennially and expire on the last day of the month in which the license was issued (CA Senate Business & Professions background paper on the Board of Optometry).

Optometrist — license renewal requirements, sourced from the official board.

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50CE hours every 2 yearsVerify with board

Renewal: Licenses renew biennially and expire on the last day of the month in which the license was issued (CA Senate Business & Professions background paper on the Board of Optometry).

Required categories

Diagnosis, treatment, and management of ocular disease

35h

Glaucoma-specific education (Included within the 35 ocular-disease hours; required only for glaucoma-certified licensees.)

10h

Details

Reporting

The Board reviews CE via ARBO OE Tracker during the renewal process and audits approximately 5–10% of licensees (Board application-process materials).

Grace period

UNCONFIRMED: exact late-renewal/grace timeline not confirmed from current official sources.

50 hours applies to therapeutic (TPA) optometrists; non-TPA optometrists need 40 hours. Up to 25 of the 50 hours may be self-study/alternative-method CE. Rule: Title 16 CCR §1536.

Official source: California Board of Optometry — 16 CCR §1536 (CE provider document)

⚠️Board rules change. Verify every figure against the official source before relying on it.

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California Optometry (OD) CE requirements

More on this license

Required categories

Details

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Other professions in California

Optometry (OD) in other states