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Confdence in Optometric Competence 

www.ABCOom.og

Recredentialing Application together with the ABCO-MOC Credentialing Application fee.

Step 4: Cognitive ExpertiseDuring every second ABCO-MOC cycle (once every10 years) each ABCO Fellow is required to demonstratecognitive expertise in optometry by passing a validated,criterion-referenced, and independently administered

closed-book examination. The goal of the cognitiveexpertise requirement is not to re-examine theunderstanding of basic principles that have already beenexamined, but to ensure that doctors are staying abreastof new understandings in basic and clinical sciencerelevant to the practice of optometry.

Program CompletionThe Maintenance of ABCO Certication programis designed to ensure that all ABCO Fellows aremaintaining doctorate level knowledge and skills in thecurrent standards of optometric practice and are capableof providing quality up-to-date patient care. Fellows whodo not successfully complete all elements of the ABCO-MOC program in a timely fashion (e.g. within their cycle)

will have their Certicate and Fellowship suspended untilthey satisfy the ABCO-MOC requirements. A certicatesuspended due to failure to satisfy ABCO-MOC willexpire in one year after the suspension begins. Onceexpired, the only mechanism to obtain a new Certicateand be reinstated to Fellow status is to complete therequirements for initial certication again.

 

Confdence in Optometric Competence 

Please go to www.ABCOptometry.org

to apply or ABCO Certifcation.

Amica Boad of Ciica Oom, Ic.

4607 Lakeview Canyon Rd., #442

Westlake Village, CA 91361

Phone: (818) 714-1350

Fax: (818) 337-2226

 

Fo mo ifomaio: admin@abcoptometry.org

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MAIntenAnCe OF ABCO CertIFICAtIOn 

The guiding principle of Maintenance of ABCOCertication (ABCO-MOC) is to foster continuing excellence in optometric care. It is intended to encourageand support life-long education in the practice of optometry, with a focus on ensuring that ABCO Fellowsare staying current with advances in relevant health care.The program provides an avenue for compliance with

anticipated future third party payer requirements. Oncecertied by the ABCO, all ABCO Fellows are required toparticipate in Maintenance of the ABCO Certication inorder to remain an ABCO Fellow.

The ABCO does not believe periodic re-certicationis the most effective means of enabling certiedoptometrists to demonstrate that they are keeping abreastof advances in the profession. Accordingly, following recommendations of the American Board of MedicalSpecialties (ABMS), to maintain ABCO Certication andFellowship in the ABCO, ABCO Fellows must participatein the Maintenance of ABCO Certication programin ve-year cycles which begin on January 1 of the yearfollowing the year in which the applicant rst became

 ABCO certied.

 ABCO Fellows are automatically enrolled in the ABCO-MOC process upon obtaining their initial ABCOCertication. Based closely on the recommendationsof the ABMS, depending on your cycle, the ABCO-MOC Process is a three or four-step process combining continuing education, self-assessment learning andevaluation, and ongoing maintenance of high moralcharacter. Additionally, once every other MOC cycle,each ABCO Fellow must satisfy a cognitive expertiseexamination requirement.

 Accordingly, the ABCO, in consultation with the American Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO),

background check, and reporting to the NationalPractitioner Data Bank or equivalent agencies.

 When the applicant has satised the above criteriafor ABCO board certication the ABCO will grantthe applicant Certication and use of the professional

designation, Fellow of the American Board of ClinicalOptometry (FABCO).

has established the following maintenance of certicationprogram (please see www.ABCOptometry.org forcomplete details).

Step 1: Continuing Education Within each ve-year ABCO-MOC Cycle the ABCOFellow must complete a total of 125 hours of qualifying 

continuing education. Applicants are expected, but notrequired, to evenly distribute the hours over each ABCO-MOC cycle.

Subject to certain limitations, all ABCO-MOCcontinuing education may be “distance learning” (e.g. viaweb courses or other non-live education such as journalarticles) so long as they are COPE approved DistanceLearning/Multimedia courses.

Step 2: Self-Assessment Modules (SAM)During the nal two years of each ABCO-MOC ve-

 year cycle the ABCO Fellow must take and completeself-assessment and practice performance modules(SAM). The modules, which will be offered on-line andwill follow the guidelines established by the ABMS,

include self-assessment of current optometric knowledge,procedural skills including the use and interpretationof results from current diagnostic equipment,communication skills, ethics, utilization of evidencebased/best practices decision-making, peer comparison,and patient record and record keeping. ABCO-MOCrequires that the applicant obtain a passing score on theSAM, and the SAM itself will be designed to assist theFellow, in real-time, in obtaining the information andknowledge necessary to correctly complete or answereach question.

Step 3: Moral Character Recredentialing ApplicationDuring the fth and nal year of each ABCO-MOCcycle the ABCO Fellow must submit an updated ABCO

ApplICAtIOn Fees 

For all applicants submitting their application for ABCOCertication on or before December 31, 2010, the feefor ABCO Certication is $650. If your application isdenied the ABCO will refund the credentialing fee less a$150 application processing fee. There are no additionalfees during the certication process or to obtain ABCO

Certication or Fellowship.

tHe CertIFICAtIOn prOCess:

GenerAl OptOMetry

The process of becoming certied in General Optometryby the American Board of Clinical Optometrybegins when the applicant completes and submits the

 Application for Certication along with the applicationfee to the ABCO for review. Uponreceipt of the application, the

 ABCO will determine if theapplicant has met the following criteria for certication:

1. Education. The applicant hasattained the degree of Doctor of Optometry froma college or school of optometry accredited by the

 American Council on Optometric Education.

2. Examination. The applicant has passed all examinationsections of the National Board of Examiners inOptometry (NBEO), or equivalent state, provincial,or territorial board examination(s), required for theapplicant to obtain licensure.

3. Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease. The applicant has passed NBEO examination inthe Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease(TMOD), or its equivalent state examination.

Until January 1, 2020, applicants that have not taken orpassed the TMOD or an equivalent state examinationbut whom have otherwise met all other criteria for

 ABCO Certication are eligible for Non-Therapeutic ABCO Certication.

4. Licensure. The applicantholds in good standing an unrestricted license topractice optometry in atleast one state in the United

States, its territories, or inCanada. Except for thoseapplicants only eligiblefor a Non-Therapeutic

 ABCO Certication, to obtain ABCO Certication theapplicant’s license(s) under which he or she is activelypracticing optometry must permit the applicant toprescribe or dispense therapeutic pharmaceutical agentsas allowed in each such state.

5. Moral Character. The applicant must meet the moralcharacter qualications for certication as determinedby the ABCO Credentialing Committee based onthe committee’s review of the application and theapplicant’s history of discipline, criminal and/or civil

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