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Every five years, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) requires ABO to conduct a Job Task Analysis (JTA) to meet certification requirements. With the last JTA completed in 2015, we will be undertaking a new JTA in early 2020.

The purpose of a JTA is to identify and validate what tasks within a job role are most important. ABO relies on input from practicing optometrists to ensure that our board certification examination objectively measures the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to provide patients with high quality eye care.

To begin the JTA process, subject matter experts will construct a survey to be sent to a large, diverse sample of optometrists. Survey results are then analyzed to determine critical competencies based on tasks performed, the importance of the task, difficulty of the task and frequency of the task. These critical competencies can then be used to define the scope of practice for the majority of licensed optometrists. Using this information as a foundation for the certification exam outline ensures that the questions being asked are relevant and necessary for effective and competent practitioners.

As with any survey and analysis project, success relies on participation from respondents. We urge all Diplomates to participate in the JTA process and to encourage your colleagues to participate as well. Having a large and varied respondent pool will ultimately ensure that our board certification examination accurately reflects current job expectations and responsibilities.

Please be on the lookout for further communication regarding the JTA. Email invitations to participate in the survey will be sent early in 2020 as well as multiple reminders to complete the survey. Thank you in advance for your time, expertise and feedback. Your participation is critical to the success of the JTA and ABO’s ability to appropriately assess advanced competencies in the practice of optometry.

Every five years, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) requires ABO to conduct a Job Task Analysis (JTA) to meet certification requirements. With the last JTA completed in 2015, we will be undertaking a new JTA in early 2020.

The purpose of a JTA is to identify and validate what tasks within a job role are most important. ABO relies on input from practicing optometrists to ensure that our board certification examination objectively measures the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to provide patients with high quality eye care.

To begin the JTA process, subject matter experts will construct a survey to be sent to a large, diverse sample of optometrists. Survey results are then analyzed to determine critical competencies based on tasks performed, the importance of the task, difficulty of the task and frequency of the task. These critical competencies can then be used to define the scope of practice for the majority of licensed optometrists. Using this information as a foundation for the certification exam outline ensures that the questions being asked are relevant and necessary for effective and competent practitioners.

As with any survey and analysis project, success relies on participation from respondents. We urge all Diplomates to participate in the JTA process and to encourage your colleagues to participate as well. Having a large and varied respondent pool will ultimately ensure that our board certification examination accurately reflects current job expectations and responsibilities.

Please be on the lookout for further communication regarding the JTA. Email invitations to participate in the survey will be sent early in 2020 as well as multiple reminders to complete the survey. Thank you in advance for your time, expertise and feedback. Your participation is critical to the success of the JTA and ABO’s ability to appropriately assess advanced competencies in the practice of optometry.