Assessment Guide
About CAQ Assessments
CAQ assessments are comprised of 40 multiple-choice questions and can be accessed from your Learning Plan page during the annual open testing window of August 1 to December 31.
Taking the Assessment
CAQ assessments may be taken at your convenience through your Learning Plan page. Candidates will accept a non-disclosure agreement prior to beginning the assessment and may not consult with any other individual while answering questions. Candidates are given 5 minutes to answer each question. Questions must be answered in the order given and answers may not be revised once submitted. Scores will be immediately displayed upon completion of the assessment. Assessments must be completed prior to December 31 of a calendar year in order to be enrolled in a focused MOC path the following year.
Assessment Outline and Reference List
Candidates who qualify for the CAQ already have significant knowledge of current clinical practice standards and landmark studies within their specialized area and are unlikely to require extensive preparation to pass the qualifying assessment. For those who wish to refresh their knowledge before taking the assessment, a topical outline and list of references is provided as a study guide.
Cornea and Contact Lens Study Guide
Assessment Scoring and Retake Policy
CAQ assessments will have a set passing score specific to each CAQ. This score can be found in the Overview section of the assessment. Final scores will be displayed immediately upon completion of the assessment. Candidates may retake a CAQ assessment once within 12 months, after a 30 day waiting period.
I passed the assessment. Now what?
Congratulations! Upon successful completion of the assessment, you are awarded a Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in your chosen area and enrolled in a focused Maintenance of Certification program. ABO’s maintenance of certification program is known as CAP; each cycle is 4 years in length and must be completed in order to keep your board certification status “Current.” CAP cycles will renew every 4 years upon successful completion of all requirements.
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By going through the voluntary process of becoming board certified, our Diplomates demonstrate competence beyond entry level.
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