Here is a highlight from the March ABO Press Release. To read the entire press release, click here.

The ABO also announced that the Board will be discussing whether to continue two of the six Areas of Emphasis--Pediatrics/Binocular Vision/Vision Therapy and Vision Rehabilitation/Low Vision/Neuro-Ophthalmic Rehabilitation. Very low participation in these emphasis areas by Candidates precipitated the discussion, according to ABO chairman of the board Paul C. Ajamian, O.D. The issue will be looked at carefully before a final decision is made.

In June 2011, 489 doctors took the board certification exam and 453 passed. That is a 92.6% pass rate! In December 2011, 276 doctors took the exam and 261 passed. That is a 94.8% pass rate! Those are encouraging percentages for anyone interested in becoming ABO Board Certified. You can do this, but how?

Understandably, you want and need to be prepared. However, as busy optometrists you may not have unlimited time and/or money to invest in the process. We offer weekend conferences (typically in partnership with state/local optometric associations) in many different states throughout the year.  Your registration fee is paid to your state/local association and is always discounted for AOA members. Your registration provides you with compelling, clinically relevant, COPE approved CE presented by distinguished and engaging speakers. The presentations are specifically designed and delivered to prepare attendees for the board certification exam and relate current information that you can use in practice everyday. You also receive exclusive access to all of our online course materials, tutorials, and sample questions. Best of all, you support your state/local association! Check out our May 2011 News Archive for a list of FREE online study resources!

The future exam dates are:

July 15-31, 2012

January 5-20, 2013

July 2013

January 2014

Registration for the July 15-31, 2012 Exam is open. If you are an Active Candidate and have achieved the required 150 post graduate points then you are eligible to register for the exam at abopt.org Keep in mind, there are a limited number of seats reserved for the ABO exam at each Prometric Testing Center. Registering for the exam early will allow you to have the best choice of location, date and time.

Best of luck!

To read the entire ABO Press Release click here.

ST. LOUIS, Mo., March 25, 2011 ― The American Board of Optometry (ABO) has been accepted as a member of the National Quality Forum (NQF). As an accrediting body of optometric board certification, the ABO will be a member of the Quality Measurement, Research and Improvement (QMRI) Council of the NQF.
The National Quality Forum (NQF) is a nonprofit organization that operates under a three-part mission to improve the quality of American health care by:

• Building consensus on national priorities and goals for performance improvement and working in partnership to achieve them;
• Endorsing national consensus standards for measuring and publicly reporting on performance; and
• Promoting the attainment of national goals through education and outreach programs.

 To view the NQF Member List click here.

American Board of Optometry Opens Exam Registration Process Qualified Active Candidates Can Now Reserve a Seat for the June 2011 Examination

ST. LOUIS, Mo., March 1, 2011 ― The American Board of Optometry (ABO) has opened the Examination Registration for the inaugural Board Certification Examination that is scheduled for June 1-18, 2011, at over 400 Prometric Test Centers in the United States and throughout the world.

Active Candidates who have met the post-graduate requirements will be able to access the examination registration process on their MyABO portal on the ABO Web site. The ABO has set the Examination Registration Fee at $1,250 throughout 2011 though this will increase to $1,500 in 2012. Once registered, candidates can reserve a seat at a Prometric Test Center of their choice.

Optometrists may apply to become Active Candidates for ABO Board Certification on the American Board of Optometry Web site at www.abopt.org. Active Candidates will have until May 15 to complete all of the 150 points of the post-graduate requirements to take the June examination. The next administration of the examination will be in December, 2011. The examination is expected to be offered twice annually thereafter.

The 240-item examination is broken into three separate sections. The General Practice section consists of 160 items (multiple choice questions), and candidates will be given 4 hours to complete this section. After a break, candidates will choose two 40-item Areas of Emphasis, and will be given one hour to complete each of these sections. The majority of items involve patient assessment and management.

On January 10, 2010 we posted an entry which reflected what most Americans believed at the time. Health Care Reform was dead. With the passing of Health Care Reform yesterday, it is no longer a question of "Will Health Care Reform affect optometry?"  Today, it is "How does Health Care Reform affect optometry?"  

Included in this bill is the Harkin Amendment which prohibits third party payers from discriminating against optometrists. AOA President Randolph Brooks, O.D. was quoted in an AOA Press Release on March 21, 2010:

"The approval of the Harkin Amendment is a tremendous victory for optometry and will likely prove to be one of the most historic advances in patient access to optometric care since the 1986 recognition of optometrists as physicians under Medicare," said AOA President Randolph Brooks, O.D. "AOA's top priority in Washington, D.C. throughout this process has been to expand patient access and put a stop to the health plan discrimination we have faced for too long. Today, thanks to Senator Harkin and other "access-to-care" leaders in Congress, organized medicine and every health plan in America, including ERISA plans, are on notice that their unfair restrictions to the full scope of eye health care we provide are ending."

One question remains. "Will Health Care Reform, along with the Harkin Amendment, increase the importance of Optometry Board Certification and Maintenance of Certification?"

We provide up-to-date information regarding Optometry Board Certification.  Once the examination date(s) are announced we will offer a strategically timed Continuing Education/Board Certification Preparation Course.  Our goal is to provide a course which grants continuing education hours as well as prepares any Doctor of Optometry (regardless of years in practice or mode of practice) for successful completion of the Optometry Board Certification exam.