Click on the appropriate tab below to see the Renewal Requirements, Process, Fees and Continuing Education (CE) for an Optometrist.
Current licenses expires at midnight, Eastern Time, on February 28, 2025.
To ensure you receive your renewal notification from the department, your current mailing address must be on file. Failure to renew an active or inactive license by the expiration date will result in the license being placed in delinquent status. Failure by a delinquent licensee to renew before the expiration of the current licensure cycle renders the license null and void without any further action by the board or the department.
A licensee who remains on inactive status for more than two consecutive biennial licensure cycles and who wishes to reactivate the license may be required to demonstrate the competency to resume active practice by sitting for a special purpose examination or by completing other reactivation requirements.
Licensees requesting to reactivate their license from inactive or retired status are required to pay additional fees and comply with specific continuing education requirements. Please contact the board office at MQA.Optometry@flhealth.gov to request your reactivation requirements.
If you are reactivating your license, please refer to the Laws & Rules governing your practice for additional requirements.
The department will renew your license upon receipt of:
- Completed renewal application
- Required fees
Military Exemption
If you are a member of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty who was in good standing with the board at the time of becoming active and was entitled to practice or engage in the practice of medicine in Florida, you may be eligible to be exempted from renewal requirements for the duration of active duty, and for a period of six months after discharge, but not practicing the profession in the private sector for profit.
If you are the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, you may be eligible to be exempted from licensure renewal requirements, but only in cases of absence from the state because your spouses’ duties with the Armed Forces.
Volunteer Health Services Exemption
If you volunteer your services to the medically indigent residents of Florida with incomes at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, you may be eligible for a waiver of your biennial renewal fee and some of the continuing education hours (no more than 25%) required for license renewal; however, the continuing education requirements for domestic violence, HIV and AIDS, and medical errors cannot be waived.
Public School Health Volunteer Exemption
If you volunteer your services in public schools for a minimum of 80 hours a year or if retired, at least 400 hours a year, you may be eligible for a waiver of your biennial renewal fee and some of the continuing education hours (no more than 25%) required for license renewal; however, the continuing education requirements for domestic violence, HIV and AIDS, and medical errors cannot be waived.
The process of renewing a license may take up to 5 days. Initiating contact to confirm the receipt of fees or the status of your license prior to this time will not expedite the renewal process.
At least 90 days before your license expires, the department will mail you a renewal notification postcard to your last known mailing address of record. You will have until midnight on the day your license expires to renew.
Failure to renew an active or inactive license by the expiration date will result in the license being placed in delinquent status. Failure by a delinquent licensee to become active or inactive before the expiration of the current licensure cycle renders the license null and void without any further action by the board or the department.
Renewal Instructions:
- Go to www.flhealthsource.gov and click the “Renew A License” button.
- Enter your Personal Identifying Information (PII), then click the Login button.
- Confirm or update your MQA Services Account email address, then click the “Continue” button.
- You are now in the Dashboard. During renewals, a “Renew My License” option will populate no later than 90 days prior to your license expiration date. (Note: If you do not see the “Renew My License” option, please check back at a later time.)
*** If the “PII Failed” screen displays, click the “Other Login Option” button and enter your existing User ID and password to access your account.***
Additional Information:
If your license is Delinquent/Active or Delinquent/Inactive you may still renew prior to the renewal deadline. The following actions must be taken prior to renewing your license:
- Prior to renewing your license, you must report your continuing education (CE) hours to the Department of Health’s tracking system.
- To renew a delinquent license, you will need to report your CE hours for your current cycle, as well as your previous cycle.
- If you did not complete CE courses in your last renewal cycle, you may complete them now and report them to the CE tracking system.
- To report course completion, log onto your MQA Online Account. From your dashboard, go to “Additional Activities” and select Report CE/CME.
Please note, when renewing your license, a delinquent fee will be assessed in addition to all applicable renewal fees.
You may renew online if you have a credit or debit card to complete the transaction. Please note that you can now renew online, print a copy of your application summary and mail it with your cashier’s check or money order to:
Division of Medical Quality Assurance
P.O. Box 6320
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6320
Information for requesting a Name Change
Name changes require legal documentation showing the name change. Please submit a request including your full name as it appears on your license, profession, license number, your new name, your date of birth, the last four digits of your social security number, and your signature. Attach supporting documents, which must be one of the following:
- a copy of a state issued marriage license that includes the original signature and seal from the clerk of the court
- a divorce decree showing the name change
- a court order showing the name change (Adoption, legal name change, federal identity change)
Any one of these will be accepted unless the department has a question about the authenticity of the document. A social security card is not considered legal documentation.
Please Note: The last four digits of the SSN are requested as required by DOH Policy Number DOHP 385-LS05-12 Name Changes for Existing Licensees, which was established for security purposes due to past instances of fraudulent activity.
Certified check or money order should be made payable to the Florida Department of Health.
Current License Expiration: 02/28/2025
Renewal Expiration:
If renewing BEFORE your license expires, your fees will be:
| Active to Active* | $305.00 |
| Inactive to Inactive | $305.00 |
| Active to Inactive | $305.00 |
| Inactive to Active | $605.00 |
| Active to Retired | $55.00 |
| Inactive to Retired | $55.00 |
If renewing AFTER your license expires, your fees will be:
| Active to Active | $605.00 |
| Inactive to Inactive | $605.00 |
| Active to Inactive | $905.00 |
| Inactive to Active | $1,205.00 |
| Active to Retired | $655.00 |
| Inactive to Retired | $655.00 |
If renewing 120 day Notified Delinquent, your fees will be:
| Active to Active* | $910.00 |
| Inactive to Inactive | $910.00 |
| Active to Inactive | $910.00 |
| Inactive to Active | $1,210.00 |
| Active to Retired | $660.00 |
| Inactive to Retired | $660.00 |
Licenses become Null & Void1 on March 1, 2025.
By submitting the appropriate renewal fees to the department, a licensee acknowledges compliance with all requirements for renewal, including continuing education.
A licensee who remains on inactive status for more than two consecutive biennial licensure cycles and who wishes to reactivate the license may be required to demonstrate competency to resume active practice by sitting for a special purpose examination or by completing other reactivation requirements.
1Null & Void -The licensed practitioner failed to renew their licensure status for two renewal cycles, resulting in their license expiring.
Continuing Education (CE) Requirements
To locate board approved CE Courses for this profession, please click here
| REQUIRED SUBJECT AREA | REQUIRED NUMBER OF HOURS | IMPORTANT INFORMATION |
| General Hours | 26 | 6 of the 26 hours must be in Transcript Quality if you are a Certified Optometrist |
| Medical Error | 2 | 2 hours maximum per biennium |
| Laws and Rules | 2 | 2 hours maximum per biennium |
| Prescribing Controlled Substances | 2 | Important Information: All licensees registered with the DEA must complete the course no later than January 31, 2019, and during each subsequent licensure renewal biennium. (May be completed through live, in-person, or online/distance learning format.) |
First Biennium Renewal: Optometrist initially licensed within the biennium are exempt from the continuing education (CE) requirements for renewal with the exception of one (1) hour of HIV/AIDS. Any live classroom course approved by any MQA Board is acceptable.
Board Rule Approved Providers
- All Optometry courses must be Board approved. All required courses must be live for the Optometry profession. Courses are listed in CEBroker.
Other Methods of Obtaining Continuing Medical Education per Biennium
- 20 General hours – For completion of the Florida Optometry Oral Drug Review Course & Examination.
- As part of the 30 clock hours, licensed practitioners shall be required to obtain two hours in the area of Florida jurisprudence. A licensed practitioner may earn two hours in Florida jurisprudence by attending an in-person meeting of the Board at which another licensee is disciplined for no less than four (4) continuous hours or the duration of the meeting. Licensed practitioners will be required to sign-in and sign-out with board staff. Those licensed practitioners present for disciplinary purposes are not eligible to earn the two (2) clock hours for the Board meeting.
- An instructor of a course may credit the hours taught towards completion of the instructor’s required continuing education only once, regardless of the number of times the course is taught. However, the instructor of a course may not credit the hours taught towards completion of the “transcript quality” portion of the continuing education requirement. Continuing education hours must be obtained during the biennium preceding license renewal.
- 381.00593, Florida Statutes – “Public School Volunteer Health Care Practitioner Act”
- Certified Optometrists NOT registered with the DEA or Optometrists may complete the 2 hour course on prescribing controlled substances to obtain 2 hours of General credit hours. (May be completed through live, in-person, or online/distance learning format.)
Helpful Information
- COPE approved courses are Board approved upon submission and review into CE Broker.
- CPR courses given by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross can count for 2 hours
- As part of the 30 clock hours, licensed practitioners shall be permitted to obtain two hours in the area of practice management. No more than two hours of continuing education in the area of practice management may be applied to the 30 clock hour requirement. (May be completed through live, in-person, or online/distance learning format.)
- The phrase “transcript quality” refers to coursework in ocular and systemic pharmacology and the diagnosis, treatment and management of ocular and systemic conditions and diseases.
Click on Chapter or Section Number to View
Florida Statute
Chapter 456: Health Professions and Occupations: General Provisions
Section 456.036: Licenses; active and inactive status; delinquency
Chapter 463: Optometry Practice Act
Section 463.0057: Optometric faculty certificate
Chapter 120: Administrative Procedure Act
Chapter 119: Public Records
Chapter 408: Health Care Administration
Chapter 112: Public Officers and Employees: General Provisions
Florida Administrative Codes
Title 64B13: Board of Optometry
Rule 64B13-5: Continuing Professional Education
