The American Board of Ophthalmology welcomes new diplomates after the administration of each Oral Examination. The table below reflects the number of new diplomates certified each year.
| Year Ending 12/31 |
New Diplomates |
| 2023 |
501 |
| 2022 |
494 |
| 2021 |
576 |
| 2020 |
470 |
| 2019 |
528 |
Examination Statistics
Since 1916, the ABO has held 246 certifying examinations and verified the knowledge, judgment, and skills of 33,940 ophthalmologists. Statistics from recent board certification examination administrations are listed below.
Written Qualifying Examination
| Exam |
Total Candidates |
Pass % - First Attempt |
Pass % - Repeat |
Pass % - Overall |
| 2024 |
660 |
80.2 |
48.9 |
73.9 |
| 2023 |
625 |
85.9 |
60.2 |
80.6 |
| 2022 |
611 |
84.3 |
52.6 |
78.4 |
| 2021 |
642 |
84.2 |
56.9 |
79.6 |
| 2020A |
568 |
86 |
29.6 |
80.6 |
| 2020B |
16 |
100 |
0 |
87.5 |
| 2019A |
538 |
94.7 |
48.1 |
90.1 |
| 2019B |
499 |
96.7 |
39.2 |
87.6 |
| 2018 |
658 |
93.1 |
40.5 |
79.6 |
| 2017 |
645 |
88.7 |
42.4 |
77.8 |
| 2016 |
665 |
87.2 |
35.4 |
74.4 |
| 2015 |
632 |
90.4 |
37.2 |
75.9 |
| 2014 |
660 |
86.1 |
28.2 |
73 |
| 2013 |
668 |
90.1 |
43.7 |
77.4 |
| 2012 |
661 |
85.8 |
38.8 |
72.8 |
| 2011 |
638 |
84.9 |
35.3 |
71.5 |
| 2010 |
637 |
83.3 |
24.2 |
68.8 |
| 2009 |
626 |
87.9 |
39.4 |
74 |
Oral Examination
| Year |
Total Candidates |
1st Time Takers |
1st Time Passed |
Repeat Takers |
Repeat Passed |
Overall Passed |
Overall Failed |
|
2024S
|
299
|
255
|
210 (82.4%)
|
44
|
27 (61.4%)
|
237 (79.3%)
|
62 (20.7%)
|
|
2023F
|
297
|
216
|
180 (83.3%)
|
81
|
57 (70.4%)
|
237 (79.8%)
|
60 (20.2%)
|
|
2023S
|
332
|
291
|
241 (82.8%)
|
41
|
23 (56.1%)
|
264 (79.5%)
|
68 (20.5%)
|
|
2022F
|
291
|
225
|
188 (83.6%)
|
66
|
51 (77.3%)
|
239 (82.1%)
|
52 (17.9%)
|
|
2022S
|
314
|
269
|
221 (82.2%)
|
45
|
34 (75.6%)
|
255 (81.2%)
|
59 (18.8%)
|
|
2021F
|
328
|
273
|
229 (83.9%)
|
55
|
38 (69.1%)
|
267 (81.4%)
|
61 (18.6%)
|
|
2021S
|
353
|
235
|
206 (87.7%)
|
118
|
103 (87.3%)
|
309 (87.5%)
|
44 (12.5%)
|
|
2020D
|
180
|
156
|
113 (72.4%)
|
24
|
13 (54.2%)
|
126 (70%)
|
54 (30%)
|
|
2020C
|
186
|
147
|
109 (74.2%)
|
39
|
27 (69.2%)
|
136 (73.1%)
|
50 (26.9%)
|
|
2020B
|
171
|
143
|
110 (76.9% )
|
28
|
19 (67.9%)
|
129 (75.4%)
|
42 (24.6%)
|
|
2020A
|
102
|
87
|
68 (78.2%)
|
15
|
11 (73.3%)
|
79 (77.5%)
|
23 (22.6%)
|
|
2019F
|
379
|
336
|
263 (78.3%)
|
43
|
33 (76.7%)
|
296 (78.1%)
|
83 (21.9%)
|
|
2019S
|
282
|
226
|
194 (85.8%)
|
56
|
38 (67.9%)
|
232 (82.3%)
|
50 (17.7%)
|