Total Diplomates
There are 14,111 board-certified ophthalmologists with 10-year, time-limited certificates participating in the Continuing Certification program. (Updated 01/01/24)
Recertification Rates
Diplomates of the American Board of Ophthalmology certified since 1992 hold the credential for a 10-year period and may renew their certification status by completing the Continuing Certification program. The table below reflects the number of diplomates recertified each year along with retention rates (calculated using the total population eligible to recertify that year minus reported retirements, career changes, deaths, and extensions).
| Year Ending 12/31 |
Recertifications |
Percentage |
| 2023 |
1,062 |
93% |
| 2022 |
1,203 |
92% |
| 2021 |
783 |
97% |
| 2020 |
931 |
96% |
| 2019 |
1,088 |
97% |
Quarterly Questions® Assessment Performance
| Year |
Passing Standard* |
Diplomates Completed** |
Pass Rate*** |
| 2023 |
65% |
3,906 |
98.7% |
| 2022 |
65% |
3,838 |
99.0% |
| 2021 |
67.5% |
5,028 |
95.3% |
| 2020 |
65% |
4,664 |
99.2% |
| 2019 |
65% |
4,090 |
99.7% |
*The passing standard is the minimum knowledge question score needed on 40 questions that year.
**These data reflect the number of diplomates who attempted all 40 knowledge-based questions between January 1 and December 31 of the same calendar year in which the activity was launched.
***These data indicate the percentage of diplomates who met or exceeded the passing standard. Because passing Quarterly Questions over several years is required for maintaining certification, this information is not equivalent to the overall pass rate for the activity as a whole.