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American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry

It’s Time to Rethink Board Recertification

In his editorial It’s time to rethink board recertification, Dr. Simoyan, an addiction medicine specialist, presents his case against recertification exams for practicing physicians. He argues that while initial certification exams make sense, recertification exams are not the best way to measure continuing competence.

You can read the full article on KevinMD.com

Several years ago ABCMO made a decision like this and transitioned away from requiring the NBEO/ACMO exam every 10 years for recertification and instead implimented a Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program based on accumlating CE credits in Medical Optometry as a better way of ensuring continuing competency.

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

February 21, 2022
Filed Under: Reflections

ABCMO News, Updates & Editorials


ABCMO News

  • Newsletter – ABCMO News and Updates – May 2022
  • A Reminder to VA Residents
  • Advanced Competence in Medical Optometry (ACMO) Exam – Friday, June 10, 2022
  • 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.

Email Updates

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

Veterans/Military

  • Optometry Careers at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
  • Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) and Financial Assistance Program (FAP)
  • Uniformed Services University
  • American Board of Optometry Specialties

    ABCMO is a Member of the American Board of Optometry Specialties (ABOS)

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