(a) A person licensed by the board shall apply for renewal of such license by such methods as the board shall determine by regulation, provided that such renewal period shall not exceed two years.

(b) Beginning with the year 1998, a license shall not be renewed by the board unless the optometrist applying for renewal submits proof to the board that during the two calendar years immediately preceding his application he has satisfactorily completed a minimum of 30 hours of continuing professional optometric education approved by the board so long as a licensee who is certified in accordance with section 4.1¹ shall be required to complete a minimum of 30 hours, at least six of which concern the prescription and administration of pharmaceutical agents for therapeutic purposes. No credit shall be given for any course in office management or practice building.

(c) Any licensee of this Commonwealth who is also licensed to practice optometry in any other state, territory or country shall report this information to the board on the biennial renewal application. Any disciplinary action taken in other states shall be reported to the board on the biennial renewal application or within 90 days of final disposition, whichever is sooner. Multiple licensure shall be noted on the licensee's record by the board, and such state, territory or country shall be notified by the board of any disciplinary action taken against said licensee in this Commonwealth.

(d) An optometrist who requests in writing to place his license on inactive status may reactivate his license after paying the required fees and showing proof of meeting the continuing education requirement for the biennial renewal period immediately preceding such request for reactivation. An optometrist who seeks to renew an inactive license shall file with the board an affidavit affirming that he has not practiced optometry in this Commonwealth during such period his license was inactive.