One of the goals of Illinois College of Optometry is to provide lifelong education to optometrists. We believe that by enhancing your knowledge base, you will be able to improve the efficiency of your practice, serve your patients better, become a more successful doctor, and thereby strengthen the profession.
The Continuing Education Department offers certified and regular courses both on-campus and online. We offer a variety of topics to choose from, and all courses are submitted for COPE approval. ICO CE is open to all optometrists, not just alumni.
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Continuing Education
We currently have no events scheduled. Check back here for details.
Resident's Day
Sunday, April 6, 2025​
8:30am - 3:45pm (CST)
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Homecoming CE Program
Sunday, September 7, 2025​
In-Person Only
8:30am - 3:45pm (CST)
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In-Person Agenda
8:30 AM Session 1: Lindsay Sicks, OD: “Ocular Surface Disease: From Autologous Serum to Zoster”
10:10 - 10:30 AM Break
10:30 AM Session 2: Jeffrey Anshel, OD: "Nutrition for Vision: Nutrition Science for Ocular Health"
12:10 - 1:30 PM Lunch
1:30 - 3:10 PM Session 3: Valerie Kattouf, OD & Leonard V. Messner, OD: “Dementia Through Different Lenses: Neuro-Ophthalmic Manifestations and Caregiver Perspectives” ​​
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ICO Fall CE Program
Saturday & Sunday, November 1-2, 2025​
Hybrid
8:30am - 3:45pm (CST)
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In-Person Agenda
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Saturday, November 1, 2025
8:30 AM Session 1: Erica Ittner, OD & Ketherine Lynch, OD: “Ocular Complications of Pregnancy”
10:10 - 10:30 AM Break
10:30 AM Session 2: Mason Clark: “Infectious Diseases that Optometrists Need to Know”
12:10 - 1:30 PM Lunch
1:30 - 3:10 PM Session 3: William Skoog, OD: Disease of the Cornea ​​
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Sunday, November 2, 2025
Myopia Management Symposium (6 hrs. CEE)
Yi Pang, MD, OD, PhD: Program Chair
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Upcoming Programs
Save the dates for these upcoming programs:
Fall CE Program
Sunday, February 2, 2025
​6 hours of hybrid (live virtual or in person) IL tested CE​
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For Illinois ODs
2024-2025 Illinois Continuing Education Requirements
Every 2-year licensing period, ODs must complete 30 hours of Continuing Education.
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12 hours of certified (TQ) CE must be completed in person
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18 hours can be completed in person or virtually through an Illinois approved CE provider (licensed through IDPR)
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Online CE is not eligible for out of state CE credit.
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On demand or print (journals, etc) CE courses require a post-test to verify complete. These do not count as certified (TQ) CE.
All licensees must take the following courses each licensing period:​
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Sexual Harassment Prevention training (1 hour)
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Dementia Awareness training (1 hour)
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Implicit Bias training (1 hour)
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Cultural Competency training (1 hour)
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Safe Opioid Prescribing (3 hours IF licensee holds controlled substance license)
New graduates do not need to complete CE requirements during their first licensing period with the exception of the five required courses listed above.
To see the statute in its entirety, you can visit the IDPR page here.
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Helpful Links:
IL Dept of Professional Regulation
Illinois Optometric Association
IN Professional Licensing Agency, Board of Optometry
WI Dept of Safety and Professional Services
Online CE
Our online CE portal offers access to COPE-approved courses developed by leading content experts right here at ICO! Registration is easy. Just click the link below to access our portal and sign up. Once logged in, you’ll have access to ICO’s CE courses anytime, anywhere. Courses are viewable for a full week after purchase, and can be conveniently paused to suit your schedule.
Looking for More?
Missing some continuing education documentation? Fill out the CE Documentation Request Form and email to continuinged@ico.edu or fax to 312-949-7383 in order to get the materials you need.
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