Board Update: License renewal tips
Published: January 12, 2026
The Oregon Board of Optometry is sharing important reminders and updates at the start of the
year to help licensees prepare for renewal and maintain compliance with current requirements.
Here are some updates about some license renewal tips and glitches we are having with the system. Your license renewal is due soon. PLEASE take the time to read this and if you need to refer to it later, it will be posted on our website on the E-mail Blasts & Newsletters page: https://www.oregon.gov/obo/about-us/Pages/newsletter.aspx
- ARBO data feed courses don't show the course titles on the portal. The course titles are included in the data feed and OBO staff can see them on the back end of the system. DO NOT delete and re-enter them.
- ARBO data feed courses aren't always going to the correct CE plan. If you're not sure, review your prior year CE plan in the CE section of the portal. If you see courses that were entered after your renewal, email Gabby and I and we can move them to the current year CE plan.
- DO NOT mark more than 18 hours for carryover to your next license renewal. Also, make sure that you report 18 hours of CE for the period. We've been seeing incidences where licensees are marking too many courses for carryover and that means that they aren't meeting the 18-hour requirement. When these things happen, it takes OBO staff time to make the corrections. Please take the time to enter your CE courses correctly.
- There have been instances where you've entered your CE in the portal, but when you process your renewal, the system is pointing to another CE plan with insufficient hours. If that happens, email Gabby and I and we can fix it.
- The system is still sporadically assessing CPR lapse fees and place of practice reporting fees that aren't due. We don't have access to the invoices before they are paid. You can see what type of fee is being assessed before you pay it. Please pay the invoice and then two business days later, when we review your renewal for license printing, we will refund any undue fees on the same credit card.
- Please take the time to review the CE type for each course and enter it correctly. There is guidance at the top of the CE entry screen that shows what COPE courses are TMOD versus other credit.
- The Board never accepts COPE PM or EJ courses. Do not enter them into your CE record. When you do, OBO staff zero's out the hours. If you start to enter a COPE EJ course, double check the CE certificate, especially from Pacific University, to see if it has an OBO course number. If so, enter it as an OBO approved course.
Please renew your license early in case you need staff assistance. We are generally available between 7:30 am and 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. If you need to reach us during lunch, be sure to email and set up an appointment at that time. We can be flexible with our lunch schedules with advance notice.
Need Help?
If you have questions, contact the Oregon Board of Optometry for assistance.
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