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    • VOC Status Reports
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American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry

ABCMO News, Articles of Interest and Editorials

  • ACMO Exam Scheduled for Thursday, June 22, 2023 (2022-09-13)
  • Newsletter – ABCMO News and Updates – May 2022 (2022-05-24)
  • A Reminder to VA Residents (2022-04-28)
  • 10 Administrators for Every Doctor (2022-04-25)
  • What is Medical Optometry? (2022-03-29)
  • A Letter to VA Optometry Residency Coordinators: Benefits of ACMO (2022-03-28)
  • Retail and Clinical Pharmacy (2022-03-21)
  • It’s Time to Rethink Board Recertification (2022-02-21)
  • Boston VA Residency Funded – Flashback to 1976 (2021-10-07)
  • Newsletter – ABCMO News and Updates – September 2021 (2021-09-09)
  • How Medical Training Teaches Doctors to be Financially Unhealthy (2021-09-02)
  • VA Optometry – Flashback to the Summer of 1980 (2021-08-24)
  • Rest in Peace, Primary Care (2021-01-23)
  • Newsletter – ABCMO News and Updates – January 2021 (2021-01-13)
  • Eight Steps to Ensure the Professional Standing of Optometry (2020-12-10)
  • Dying in a Leadership Vacuum (2020-10-09)
  • So You Want to be a Doctor? (2020-09-15)
  • Delivering Health Care at a Retail Clinic (2020-08-14)
  • The Continuing Evolution of Optometry (2020-07-30)
  • New Schools Will Add to Surplus of Optometrists (2020-07-22)
  • The Education Apocalypse (2019-10-10)
  • Optometry Schools Should Begin to Reduce Class Size (2019-10-03)
  • To Extinguish Burnout, Bring Back Physician Autonomy (2019-09-30)
  • Background Information – Article 19 – Maintenance of Certification (MOC) (2019-09-04)
  • Accept No Substitutes (2018-11-02)
  • Who Knows You Are Board Certified? (2018-11-02)
  • Dr. Charles F. Mullen Joins ABCMO as Special Advisor to the Board (2018-09-23)
  • Students, Debt and the Oversupply of Optometry Schools (2018-09-23)
  • Types of Optometry Practices in a Midwest Metropolitan Area (2018-08-22)
  • The Lewin National Survey of Optometrists (2018-08-22)
  • Optometry is Number One – A Tragedy of the Commons (2018-08-03)
  • The Optometry Surplus – A Review (2018-07-30)
  • Letters to the Editor About the Optometry Surplus (2018-07-10)
  • How the Diploma Deluge is Reshaping Optometry (2018-07-09)
  • How Medical Optometry Originated in DVA (2017-10-25)
  • The Future of Optometric Education (2017-09-21)
  • Medical Optometry Recognized by Credentialing Bodies (2017-03-08)
  • Medical Facilities Utilizing ABCMO Certification (2016-04-15)
  • Optometry Credentialing at Medical Facilities (2016-01-07)
  • VA Residency Supervision Requirements (2016-01-05)
  • Lewin Study Finds Large Optometry Surpluses (2014-10-15)
  • When is Enough Way Too Much? (2014-09-29)
  • Growing Optometry Surpluses (2014-06-14)
  • Types of Optometry Certification (2014-04-09)
  • A New Educational Model (2013-05-14)


Historical Archives (PDF Files, 1986-2014)

  • 2014-12 What Constitutes a Recognized Specialty Board?
  • 2014-12 What is Medical Optometry?
  • 2014-11 What is an Optometry Specialty?
  • 2014-04 Types of Optometry Certification
  • 2013-02 ABCMO Deadline Nears
  • 2012-01 ABCMO Brochure
  • 2011-07 Why ABCMO Did Not Nominate Its MOC
  • 2011-05 Will Board Certification Be Required of General Practice ODs?
  • 2011-04 Faux Board Certifications Press Release
  • 2011-03 Faux Board Certifications Editorial
  • 2011-02 AOS Versus ABO Judge Matz Ruling
  • 2010-07 Development of Medical Optometry within the VA
  • 2010-07 Public Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs
  • 2010-07 ABCMO Certification Requirements
  • 2010-06 ARBO Powerpoint Presentation
  • 2009-10 ABCMO FAQs
  • 2009-10 ABCMO Certification Fees
  • 2009-10 ABCMO Basics
  • 2009-10 ABCMO Overview and History
  • 2009-10 Organizations and Board Certification
  • 2001-04 NBEO Explains Continued Competence is Not Board Certification
  • 1987-12 AOA HOD Defeats Specialty Certification – Wallis Editorial
  • 1986-07 AOA House of Delegates Rejects Specialty Certification
  • 1986-05 AOA Commission on Optometric Specialties

Email Updates

ABCMO News

  • ACMO Exam Scheduled for Thursday, June 22, 2023
  • Newsletter – ABCMO News and Updates – May 2022
  • A Reminder to VA Residents
  • Newsletter – ABCMO News and Updates – September 2021
  • Newsletter – ABCMO News and Updates – January 2021

Reflections – Articles of Interest and Editorials

  • 10 Administrators for Every Doctor
  • What is Medical Optometry?
  • A Letter to VA Optometry Residency Coordinators: Benefits of ACMO
  • Retail and Clinical Pharmacy
  • It’s Time to Rethink Board Recertification

Comments are welcome and can be sent to editor@abcmo.org for publication under the author's name.

Certification Requirements

The following are in addition to an O.D. degree from an accredited North American school or college of optometry and a current state license to practice.

Residency: Completion of a full-time, ACOE (or equivalent) accredited, postgraduate clinical residency training program having major emphasis on medical optometry.

ACMO Exam: Passage of the Advanced Competence in Medical Optometry exam (or equivalent) offered by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry.

Practice: Documented significant practice of medical optometry for a minimum of two years immediately prior to application for certification.

The Practice requirement is waived in the two years immediately following residency training.

Complete Application and Requirements

American Board of Optometry Specialties

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