License renewal information
West Virginia Board of Optometry renewal licenses are valid July 1st of the given year through June 30th of the following year.
In odd numbered years, you must complete the renewal steps and pay the annual renewal fee of $400.00 before June 30th.
In even numbered years, you must complete the renewal steps, pay the annual renewal fee of $400.00 and submit your total number of Continuing Education (CE) Hours before June 30th. The Board will audit your CE hours submission before approving your license renewal. All steps must be completed before a renewal license will be issued.
Ideally, all steps will be submitted by June 15th of each year to give the Board ample time to review all license renewals before June 30th.
All licenses will EXPIRE on June 30th every year. Please note, a late fee of $200.00 will be imposed if not renewed by June 30th of the current year.
All Licensed Optometrists in West Virginia: Please click here to login to your online account to begin the license renewal process.
continuing education information
During the 2024 Legislative Session, the West Virginia Legislature updated the Optometry Continuing Education (CE) requirements that apply to the reporting period ending June 30, 2024 and all future reporting periods.
A total of 40 Continuing Education hours are required for each even-numbered two-year cycle.
Specific requirements for each two-year reporting period include the following:
- Minimum of twelve (12) CE hours in ocular pharmacology or therapeutics.
- No limit on number of hours taken in practice management.
- No drug diversion CE is required for renewal. However, upon receiving an initial West Virginia license, you must provide proof of completion of two (2) CE hours of drug diversion CE taken within a year of the initial license approval date.
- Maximum of ten (10) CE hours of optometric study may be taken by correspondence or via the internet, all others must be live (instructor and student are both in the same room during entirety of course).
- All licensees shall complete two (2) CE hours in injections.
All injection certified licensees must maintain and provide proof of current CPR/Basic Life Support certification, which is eligible for CE credit.
Please note: Continuing education courses taken at conferences and seminars must be sponsored by the AOA, SECO, other State Optometry Associations, Colleges of Optometry, Medical Schools, COPE, or pre-approved by the Board of Optometry. Hours may be taken any time during the two-year reporting period.
Additionally, all licensees are responsible for keeping copies of continuing education course certifications and records. The Board utilizes the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry's (ARBO) OE Tracker Continuing Education database to audit every licensee's CE submissions. All licensees must retain written proof of CE hours submitted to your OE Tracker account for the current and previous two-year reporting periods.
The West Virginia Board of Optometry covers the cost of the yearly fee for an OE Tracker account for all active West Virginia Optometry licensees. Click here to login to your OE Tracker account.
Please refer to W. Va. State Rule §14-10 for additional information or contact the Board with questions.