Changes Coming for 2025 – You Asked, We Listened!

Throughout the year, ABO staff spend considerable time talking with both Diplomates and Candidates. From helping Diplomates navigate Learning Builder, to guiding Candidates through an application or offering suggestions for earning MOC points, we frequently get feedback, both bad and good. Sorting through all the feedback and categorizing the types of requests received provides a good picture of what is important not only to our Diplomates, but to potential Candidates as well. And while we are not able to implement every idea discussed, we work to find solutions that address as many of the needs as possible.

We are pleased to introduce the following program enhancements coming in January 2025.

CE Entry

ABO staff receives many complaints from Diplomates who dislike having to enter their CE into Learning Builder. If you’re one of those Diplomates, we now have a solution for you! For a small annual fee ($20), ABO staff will enter your CE for you.

Diplomates may now upload a PDF copy of their OE Tracker or CE Broker documentation. ABO staff will verify the information, sort the CE by type (Category 1 or Category 2) and enter the CE information into Learning Builder for you. CE may be uploaded in 12-month increments at any time during the MOC cycle. The fee applies to each 12-month period and will be paid at the time of uploading the transcript document. To take advantage of this new feature, log in to your learning plan page and choose the Upload CE task bar right under the MOC tracker bars at the top of the page. This feature will be available on learning plans beginning in January 2025.

Activities not included in OE Tracker, such as surgical observations, advanced degrees, or teaching residents/externs may still be entered manually into the learning plan page under the appropriate category.

This is an optional service for those who do not wish to manually enter their CE courses.

Three-Year Rule for New Applicants

When ABO was formed in 2010, the board certification committee set the initial requirements for exam eligibility at 150 points and either residency or 3 years of clinical experience. This was termed “residency or equivalent.” As we now enter our 15^th year of administering board certification examinations, the emphasis on clinical experience has shifted from a time-based view to a practice-based view. While 3 years in clinical practice is often a good indication of advanced competency above basic licensing, it is certainly not a one-size-fits all. The types of patients seen, along with the number of patients seen, has emerged as a better indicator of experience than a narrow rule for how long an optometrist has been in practice.

For this reason, beginning in 2025, Candidates will simply need to attain 150 qualification points to sit for the board examination. This allows Candidates a better opportunity to earn qualification points at their own pace while offering a more comprehensive approach to assessing clinical experience.

Patient Encounter Points for New Applicants

Together with removing the 3-year applicant rule, this new points opportunity targets quality over quantity. Candidates are currently awarded 5 points for each year in clinical practice up to 10 years or 50 points. However, there is no means to recognize the types of patients seen or complexity of diagnosis and treatment. Optometrists working in a medical practice may gain experience much faster than an optometrist working in a practice limited to basic eye examinations and refractions. The number of patients seen also plays a role in how quickly experience is gained.

To recognize differing levels of patient care and the number of patients seen, ABO will award 1 point for every 10 advanced-care patient encounters toward the required 150 qualification points needed for exam eligibility. Patient logs may be pulled from EHR systems and uploaded to the application learning plan page in 12-month increments. For additional details on the types of patient encounters accepted, please visit the ABO website.

For questions regarding any of these enhancements, please contact ABO at [email protected] or 314.983.4226.