IMPORTANT NEWS REGARDING STATE AND FBI CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS CHECK
The Maryland Board of Examiners in Optometry is currently unable to implement the requirements for a State and FBI background check as required under Health Occupations Article, 11-302, due to a backlog with the issuance of the FBI ORI number.
If you apply for a license on or after October 1, 2024, the Board will process your application without the criminal history records check.
Please note: You will be required to complete a State and Federal background check at a later time after the Board receives the ORI number and is able to implement this requirement.
January 2022
IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING COURSES
Licensed Optometrists
Greetings: Md. Code Ann., Health Occ. § 1-225 mandates that licensed health providers complete an implicit bias training program. Specifically, this program is a condition of license renewal in 2024 for optometrists. Note that this law applies not just to the
Optometry Board, but to all health occupation licensees and certificate holders in Maryland. This is a one-time only requirement. You are required to complete the program as a condition of license renewal.
ALTHOUGH YOU MUST COMPLETE ONE OF THE OFFERED PROGRAMS, YOU WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION TO THE OPTOMETRY BOARD, UNLESS YOU ARE AUDITED FOR CE COMPLIANCE.
When you complete the program, please make a note of the name and sponsor of the program, the date that it was completed, the number of hours and maintain the certificate of completion if one is provided. Licensed optometrists may receive continuing education credit for completion of the program. Keep in mind that during any renewal cycle, a licensee may receive up to a combined total of four (4) continuing education hours for Board-approved courses in cultural competency, including Implicit Bias training.
On your 2024 renewal application you will be asked to “Attest” to the fact that you completed the implicit bias training program. If you have not, you will not qualify for license renewal. The Board approved courses may be accessed at:
All implicit bias training programs must be approved by the Cultural and Linguistic Health Care Professional Competency Program within the Maryland Department of Health. Other courses are not approved.
If you have any questions, please contact the Board at
mdh.optometry@maryland.gov. The Board apologizes for any inconvenience this may have caused.
