Certification
Questions
What is Board Certification?
Certification by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) is a
voluntary process, and is the last step in a long and intensive
educational experience designed to assure quality eye care for the
American people. Certification is granted to ophthalmologists who
successfully complete an accredited course of education in
ophthalmology and an evaluation including an examination. The
evaluation is designed to assess the knowledge, experience and
skills requisite to the delivery of high standards of patient care
in ophthalmology.
A candidate who successfully passes both the Written Qualifying
and Oral Examinations within the required time limitations, as
determined by the ABO in its sole discretion, shall be entitled to
receive a certificate without further consideration of his/her
qualifications by the ABO. Physicians who have received the
certificate are DIPLOMATES of the ABO.
Certificates issued in 1992 and thereafter are valid for a
period of ten years and expire December 31 of the tenth year.
Thereafter, a diplomate is required to satisfactorily participate
in the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) process in order to
extend the validity of his/her certificate. Certificates issued
prior to July 1, 1992 are valid during the diplomate's lifetime.
Diplomates who hold a life-time certificate are also encouraged to
participate in the maintenance of certification process.
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What are the
requirements for a physician to become Board Certified?
Training and Board Eligibility
Medical Licensure
- Graduates of United States and Canadian Medical
Schools: Applicants for Board Certification must hold a
valid and unrestricted license(s) to practice medicine in the
United States, its territories or Canadian province in which the
applicant's practice of medicine is regularly conducted and in each
other place in which the person practices or has practiced medicine
and has an unexpired license. Applicants must notify the ABO of any
action taken by a state medical licensing board within 60 days of
such action.
Additionally, the American Board of Medical Specialties, in
conjunction with the Federation of State Medical Licensing Boards,
provides all Boards with disciplinary action status on all
candidates and diplomates.
Practice Pledge
- All applicants are required to agree to a pledge upon
application stating their commitment to provide ophthalmic services
with compassion, respect for human dignity, and
integrity.
Details on the ABO's educational requirements can be found on the
Requirements for
Certification page.
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What are the future dates of
Examinations and deadlines for applications?
See our list of Examination dates and deadlines.
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How is the computer-based Written
Qualifying Examination (WQE) different from the pencil and paper
Examination?
The WQE is a 250 multiple-choice item examination that has
traditionally been a pencil and paper examination administered at
three national sites once a year. Since 2006, the WQE has been
administered via computer test centers. A computerized WQE
significantly benefits candidates by eliminating the costs and time
commitment necessary to travel to one of only three test sites. For
more information on the WQE, click here.
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What is the time
limit for passing the Written Qualifying Examination?
A candidate must reactivate his/her application for approval and
submit an additional application fee under the following
circumstances:
- If a candidate fails to take the Written Qualifying Examination
within twenty-four (24) months after notice has been sent to
him/her that his/her application has been accepted;
- If a candidate does not repeat the Written Qualifying
Examination within twenty-four (24) months after failing;
- If a candidate receives two consecutive failures on a Written
Qualifying Examination on the same application.
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What is the time
limit for passing the Oral Examination?
A candidate shall be required to reactivate his/her
application for approval, submit an additional application fee, and
pass another Written Qualifying Examination before being admitted
to the Oral Examination under the following
circumstances:
- If a candidate does not take and pass the Oral
Examination within the four (4) consecutive administrations
assigned to them following successful completion of the Written
Examination;
- If a candidate is unable to pass the oral examination in
three attempts during this period.
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When will I get a refund if I
cancel my Examination?
When a candidate registers for an examination,
significant costs are incurred by the ABO. If you cancel your
examination before the registration deadline, your examination fee
will be refunded less a $300 application fee. Fees for examinations
are non-refundable, regardless of reason, if you cancel your
examination after the registration deadline has passed. However, 50
percent of the examination fee will be applied to the next offered
examination, if taken within the time limit for an active
application.
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When will I get my
Examination results?
- Results for the Written Qualifying Examination are mailed
approximately eight weeks following the examination.
- Results for the Oral Examination are mailed approximately six
to eight weeks following the examination.
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General Questions
Can I get a receipt for my
paid fee(s)?
If you would like a receipt for an examination fee, please
submit your request in writing to the ABO office, and the ABO will
mail you a receipt. Receipts will be automatically generated for
all online registrations and payments.
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Can I pay for the ABO
Examinations with a credit card?
The ABO accepts Visa and MasterCard as payment for all Board
fees.
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How do I change
my address with the ABO?
If you would like to change your address with the ABO, you can
login to the interactive portion of the web site using the username
and password supplied by the ABO. Once you login, you can click on
the Update Personal Profile link and make changes to your personal
contact information. You can also submit your change of address in
writing to the ABO office.
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How can I change my
name with the ABO?
If you would like to change your name with the ABO, please
submit your request in writing, along with legal documentation of
your name change (i.e. marriage license, divorce decree, legal name
change document).
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How can I find a
particular doctor's address?
While the ABO cannot give specific information about a doctor's
location, this information is available in publications such as
Marquis Who's Who Official American Board of Medical Specialties
(ABMS) Directory of Board Certified Ophthalmologists or the American Academy of
Ophthalmology's Member Directory.
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Why do I need to
add the ABO domain to my Email's Safe Senders List?
The ABO uses email to communicate in a timely and efficient
manner. However, because email systems are different, communication
via email can be interrupted by security settings and spam-blocking
features. The cause of blocked mail can be dependent on the
organization, internet service provider (ISP), email program,
security programs and spam-blocking tools. The ABO encourages all
users to place the ABO domain (@abop.org) on a "safe sender" list
in order to enable receipt of ABO email correspondence.
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How can I add a
domain to my Email's Safe Senders List?
Due to the vast number of different email programs available,
the ABO does not have specific instructions for each; however, the
ABO does suggest the following two methods:
- Contact your ISP and ask that email from the ABO be
accepted;
- View options of the security setting and spam-blocking tools on
your email program to determine if you can "whitelist" the ABO
yourself. For example, the Microsoft Outlook Email Program will
allow you to add a specific email address or a specific email
domain (@abop.org) to a Safe Senders List. (To do this in Microsoft
Outlook: highlight the email; click on Actions on the toolbar;
click on Junk Email; click on Add Sender to Safe Senders List or
Add Senders Domain (@abop.org) to Safe Senders List).
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