Formal Verification of Certification
The ABO is the primary resource for verifying that an ophthalmologist is certified. If your organization requires written verification of a physician's certification, please submit a request to the ABO Office that includes the physician's name and a check in the amount of $50 made payable to the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Verify a Physician

The search information provided on this page details the American Board of Ophthalmology certification history for each ophthalmologist. Search by name or location for a board-certified ophthalmologist using the fields below. The online directory uses the city and state provided by each physician as a mailing address and is not necessarily the physician's city and state of practice.

Enter the name and/or location of your physician to verify their certification.

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Name

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Showing Results for: Melanie Erb (1 results found)
Name Location Certification Status Certification History
Erb, Melanie Ho Irvine
CA 92618
Certified – Holds a time-limited certificate and has recertified.
2017 - 2026
2006 - 2016
 

How to Interpret Certification Status

Board Eligible
Ophthalmologists who are not yet board certified are considered “Board Eligible” by the American Board of Ophthalmology for up to seven years after graduating from a residency training program in the specialty of ophthalmology. After seven years, they may continue to pursue board certification, but may not use the term Board Eligible.

Certified (Non-Time-Limited)
Ophthalmologists who achieve board certification and voluntarily complete a rigorous evaluation of their knowledge, skills, and experience. Non-time-limited certificates were issued prior to 1992 and do not require participation in Continuing Certification; however, the ABO encourages all board-certified ophthalmologists to participate.

Certified (Time-Limited)
Ophthalmologists who achieve board certification and complete a rigorous evaluation of their knowledge, skills, and experience. Time-limited certificates were issued starting in 1992 and are valid for a period of 10 years. Board-certified ophthalmologists who hold time-limited certification are required to renew their certificates through participation in Continuing Certification.

Certified - Clinically Inactive
Clinically Inactive ophthalmologists report having no direct patient care. Despite no longer seeing patients, Clinically Inactive physicians remain board certified and have chosen to participate in the Continuing Certification program in the areas of ophthalmic knowledge and skills.

Certified - On Probation
The American Board of Ophthalmology may place a diplomate’s board certification on probation for various reasons including, but not limited to, mirroring the action of the ophthalmologist’s state medical licensing board. In such instances, a link to the state medical board is provided for further information.

Retired
Board-certified ophthalmologists may change their public reporting status to “Retired” when they are no longer engaged in the active practice of ophthalmology and have ended their professional careers.

Not Certified
Ophthalmologists who are no longer certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology for any reason are listed as Not Certified. Dates of previous certification are displayed in the Certification History column.

Pride-PinParticipating in Continuing Certification
Continuing Certification signals an ophthalmologist's commitment to high standards. Through a series of structured learning activities and assessments, board-certified eye physicians and surgeons enrolled in this program verify to the American Board of Ophthalmology that they are staying up to date in clinical knowledge and continuously exploring ways to improve patient care.

Participating in Continuing Certification

Pride-PinContinuing Certification signals an ophthalmologist's commitment to high standards. Through a series of structured learning activities and assessments, board-certified eye physicians and surgeons enrolled in this program verify to the American Board of Ophthalmology that they are staying up to date in clinical knowledge and continuously exploring ways to improve patient care.

Certification Status

Board Certification is a voluntary physician credential, driven by a commitment to higher standards in patient care. Ophthalmologists who are listed as “Certified” have completed a verified program of medical training in the specialty of ophthalmology and a rigorous assessment of their post-training knowledge and skills.

Certification Status Key:

Primary Status

Meaning

Board Eligible

Has completed ophthalmology residency training within the last seven years and is not yet certified.

Certified

Holds a certificate in ophthalmology from the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Not Certified

Not certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Retired

Retirement from practice has been self-reported.

Deceased

The passing of this physician has been verified with an obituary.

 

Status Details

Meaning

Holds a time-limited certificate

Physicians certified after 1992 recertify every 10 years through Continuing Certification—a program for lifelong learning and improvement.

Holds a time-limited certificate and has recertified

Has completed at least one cycle of the Continuing Certification program for lifelong learning and improvement in order to recertify.

Holds a non-time-limited certificate.

Physicians certified prior to 1992 were awarded certificates before the recertification program was introduced. However, they are encouraged to participate in the Continuing Certification program.

Holds a non-time-limited certificate and has voluntarily recertified.

Has, on a voluntarily basis, completed the Continuing Certification program for lifelong learning and improvement in order to recertify.

Clinically Inactive

Though not retired, this physician self-reports no longer seeing patients and may work in academic, administrative, or research fields.

 

Certification History

The year a physician originally became board certified is listed here, along with the dates of any certification renewals through the Continuing Certification program.

  • A single date (1992 or earlier) indicates the physician holds a lifetime certificate, issued prior to the implementation of recertification requirements.
  • Date ranges from 1993 or later indicate the time periods during which a physician’s certification is or was valid.
  • Physicians who have voluntarily recertified will have a single date followed by a date range.