Verify a Certification (Quick Search, Best for Patients, Specialists)
Search below to check the status of an Optometrist Board Certified in the Specialty of Medical Optometry.
Not finding a name? Try different combinations of first and/or last.
Updates to information are subject to review so expect a 24-48 hour delay before inclusion above.
Important, ABCMO specialty certification is non-expiring or non-time-limited. For credential reporting purposes, you may use the MOC Renewal date as a substitute for a Certification Expiration date if your software requires it. ABCMO only reports Certification Status as Active when MOC Status is Current.
Questions? Please email info@abcmo.org
Verify a Certification (Official PSV, Best for Credentialers)
Use the form below to request Primary Source Verification (PSV) for an Optometrist Board Certified in the Specialty of Medical Optometry. This is the preferred option for Healthcare Facilities, Credentialing Committees and Credential Verification Organizations (CVOs).
ABCMO provides verification of Optometrists who have been Certified in the Specialty of Medical Optometry. ABCMO does not provide verification for any other type of Optometry (or Medical) certification or licensure.
What ABCMO Reports to Credentialers
Certification Status
Active – The O.D. is currently Board Certified as a Specialist in Medical Optometry, remains in good standing, and is actively taking part in the ABCMO Maintenance of Certification program (MOC) to retain and update their advanced competence in Medical Optometry.
Inactive – The O.D. is currently Board Certified as a Specialist in Medical Optometry but has not updated their MOC requirements as required. To remove Inactive Status, an O.D. may request a grace period in which to complete their current MOC requirements. If approved, Inactive Status reverts to Active Status.
Revoked – The O.D. was certified by ABCMO but has had their Board Certification revoked by ABCMO for failure to remain in good-standing.
Retired – The O.D. was Board Certified by ABCMO and has requested this change in status due to their current or upcoming retirement from practicing Medical Optometry.
Never Certified – This status is reported for individuals who have not achieved Board Certification in Medical Optometry.
Maintenance of Certification Status
Current – The O.D. is current and up-to-date with Maintenance of Certification requirements
Not Current – The O.D. is not current and up-to-date with Maintenance of Certification requirements.
Maintenance of Certification – Overview
Full Maintenance of Certification Requirements
ABCMO requires a board certified O.D. to maintain an active and current State License to Practice Optometry holding the highest grade of medical privileges granted by their State License of record. In addition, ABCMO requires the O.D. licensed by that State to complete and pass the full number of CE course hours required for its license renewals by attending CE courses significantly related to the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions affecting the human visual system.
Written evidence of having attended and completed/passed such CE courses must be submitted to ABCMO to meet its Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirements. (Many State Licensing Boards have certain specified mandatory CE course hours that must be taken by those holding expanded licenses that may, or may not be related to medical related vision problems. In such states, MOC requires all subsequent CE course hours taken to reach the number of CE hours for state re-licensure be solely CE courses featuring diagnosis and treatment of medically related problems of the human visual system. The O.D. is free to take other, additional types of course hours but need only submit to ABCMO those related to medical optometry and taken to reach the required total number of course CE hours.)
Additional Information
Since ABCMO was founded in 2009, credentialing committees at over 230 state, local and Federal medical facilities accredited by The Joint Commission (Note 1) have credentialed ABCMO Board Certified O.D.s as specialists in Medical Optometry. When medical staff credentials are periodically reviewed, usually every 2 years, these medical facilities contact ABCMO to verify that these specialists in Medical Optometry remain board certified and up-to-date with Maintenance of Certification requirements. (Note 2).
1) The “Joint Commission”, an independent, non-profit agency that is the Nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care, accredits over 22,000 hospitals, clinics and other medical care centers and is considered the accreditation “Gold Standard.” More information can be found at https://www.jointcommission.org
2) Private/group eye care practices and schools of optometry and medicine that have ABCMO certified staff optometrists have also contacted ABCMO for verification of certification.