Annual Board Meeting Focuses on Growing Board Certification in Optometry

On June 18, 2024, the American Board of Optometry (ABO) Board of Directors met in Nashville, Tennessee to discuss the current state of operations and set priorities for the upcoming year. Board Chair, Dr. Diane Adamczyk, began year two of her two-year term and welcomed all returning Directors to the meeting. No new Directors were appointed to the board, however, Dr. Kristen Thelen, who has served on the ABO board since 2018, completed her final term and received a warm round of thanks for the many ways she contributed support and service to the organization.

The primary focus of the day-long meeting centered around two topics, the current state of ABO’s board certification and maintenance of certification (MOC) programs and the future of board certification in optometry. Through Diplomate feedback and close monitoring of both the initial certification process and MOC, ABO has throughout the years implemented changes to offer more flexibility, streamlined processes, relevant and engaging learning opportunities and overall professional value. The introduction of the Continuous Assessment Program (CAP) in 2019 and the Certificate of Added Qualification Program (CAQ) in 2023 have been very successful, supported by other smaller enhancements along the way, such as our quarterly webinar series, COPE-accreditation of learning activities, and the simplification of MOC requirements.

While the board strongly supports continued enhancement of the board certification process and MOC program when warranted, there was unanimous agreement that ABO should now shift its focus to growing participation in board certification among the profession. “We have an excellent program,” said Dr. Adamczyk. “Optometrists who earn their board certification and participate in MOC value the program and consistently tell us about the positive impact it has on their patient care. We know we have built an amazing platform to help optometrists stay current. We now need to focus on getting the word out to the entire profession and growing participation.”

To assist in that effort, ABO has already implemented several changes to make initial application for board certification more accessible and easier to navigate. In 2020, we launched a program specifically for resident applicants and for faculty applicants. In 2021 the board certification exam window was lengthened from 30 days to 60 days, and we began offering testing to military applicants at locations worldwide. And in 2023, board certification was opened to all Canadian licensed optometrists.

As we continue to educate and encourage optometrists to pursue board certification, our feedback from educators, employment recruiters and current Diplomates is that engagement in the board certification process needs to begin at the earliest stage, even before obtaining a license to practice. The value of lifelong learning and assessment should be introduced to students while still in optometry school to foster a future generation of optometrists who are committed to maintaining a high level of competency throughout their career.

In early 2025, ABO will be introducing a new Student Candidate program to directly engage third- and fourth-year students in the board certification process. “We are excited about this new program,” said Dr. Geoffrey Goodfellow, ABO Director and Associate Dean for Academic Assessment and Records at Illinois College of Optometry. “Engaging students early on in the process will help them understand the importance and value of board certification while also giving them a head start on earning eligibility to take the exam once they are out in practice.” Details of the program are still being finalized with a formal announcement coming this fall.

For current optometrists who are considering board certification, ABO will implement a change to the application process allowing candidates to earn eligibility points not only for the number of years in active practice, but also the level of patient care provided. The board agreed that experience and expertise is measured not only by years in practice but also by the type of patient cases encountered. Implementing this change will allow more flexibility in the pace at which a Candidate can obtain the points required to sit for the initial board certification exam. This new feature of the application process is expected to be available in November 2024.

Other agenda items addressed at the annual meeting include:

• Maintain the current MOC fee for 2025. ABO is committed to providing value in board certification and affordability for Diplomates. Annual MOC fees will not increase for 2025, remaining at $250.
• Continue visits to optometry schools during the 2024/2025 academic year to introduce students and residents to board certification.
• Expand efforts to engage Canadian optometrists in board certification.
• Increase board certification awareness among military, VA and public health optometrists.
• Focus on partnerships with other optometric organizations to provide Diplomates with high quality learning activities and volunteer opportunities.

Concluding the meeting, Dr. Adamczyk presented the first annual Visionaries for Volunteer Service Award to Dr. David A. Heath, a long-time supporter and founding member of ABO.

ABO’s next board of directors meeting will be held virtually in October. As we begin another year of service to Diplomates and the patients they care for, we remain optimistic about the future and growing board certification within optometry to the level of participation seen in a majority of other healthcare professions.