Frequently Asked Questions
General 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
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
- Medical School: All applicants must have graduated from an allopathic or
osteopathic medical school. Applicants who are graduates of International
Medical Schools are also required to have a certificate from the Educational
Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
- One (1) year of internship: All applicants, both graduates of allopathic
and osteopathic medical schools, entering Ophthalmology training programs
must complete a post-graduate clinical year (PGY-1) in a program in the
United States accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical
Education or a program in Canada approved by the appropriate accrediting
body in Canada.
- The PGY-1 must be comprised of training in which the resident is
primarily responsible for patient care in fields such as internal medicine,
neurology,
pediatrics,
surgery, family practice, or emergency medicine. As a
minimum, six months of this year must consist of a broad experience in
direct patient care.
- Three to four years in a residency program: In addition to a PGY-1, all
applicants must satisfactorily complete an entire formal graduated residency
training program in Ophthalmology of at least 36 months duration (PGY-4 or
higher) in either the United States accredited by the Accreditation Council
for Graduate Medical Education, or in Canada accredited by the Royal College
of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
- Upon application for Board certification: The ABO verifies satisfactory
completion of all training requirements. Only those applicants who have
completed their PGY-1 and entire Ophthalmology training program, PGY-4 or
higher, by August 1 are eligible to apply for the ABO's Written
Qualifying Examination given in the spring of the following year.
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. For complete information about
requirements and policy for Board certification,
download the ABO Certification Brochure.
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 exams and deadlines for applications?
See our list of
examination dates and deadlines.
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How is the computer-based written qualifying examination different from
the pencil and paper exam?
The WQE is a 250 multiple-choice item exam that has traditionally been a pencil
and paper exam 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 must 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 the Oral Examination within twenty-four
(24) months after notice has been sent to the candidate that he/she has
passed the Written Qualifying Examination;
- if a candidate who is eligible to do so fails to repeat the Oral
Examination within twenty-four (24) months after failing such examination;
- if the candidate does not pass the entire examination in three attempts.
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When will I get a refund if I cancel my oral/written exam?
When a candidate registers for an examination, significant costs are incurred by
the ABO. Therefore, to keep costs down for all candidates, fees for examinations
are non-refundable, regardless of any reason. However, 50 percent of the
examination fee will be applied to the subsequent examination, if taken within
the two-year time limit for an active application. In addition, all application
fees include a $300 non-refundable administrative fee.
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When will I get my examination results?
Results for Written Qualifying Examination are mailed approximately eight weeks
following the examination.
Results for Oral Examination are mailed approximately three 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
Username and Password Page. 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
www.aao.org
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:
1. Contact your ISP and ask that email from the ABO be accepted;
2. 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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