Project Team Explores Board Certification Process

Media Center Press Releases Project Team Explores Board Certification Process American Optometric Association

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Project Team Explores Board Certification Process

The project team members represent the American Optometric Association (AOA), the American Academy of Optometry (AAO), the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO), the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO), the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), and the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA).

"If there would be a board certification process for Doctors of Optometry, what would it look like?" This is the question a Joint Board Certification Project Team will be exploring in the coming months, according to Kevin Alexander, O.D., Ph.D., President-Elect of the American Optometric Association.

The project team members were selected by their respective organizations including: the American Optometric Association (AOA), the American Academy of Optometry (AAO), the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO), the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO), the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), and the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA). The project team members are:

Randolph E. Brooks, O.D. (AOA), Chair
Arol R. Augsburger, O.D., M.S. (ASCO)
David A. Cockrell, O.D. (AOA)
Donovan L. Crouch, O.D. (NBEO)
Larry J. Davis, O.D. (ASCO)
Douglas W. Hopkins, O.D. (AAO)
Thomas L. Lewis, O.D., Ph.D. (AAO)
Mary E. Phillips, student (AOSA)
Christina Sorenson, O.D. (ARBO)
William Rafferty, O.D. (ARBO)
Jack E. Terry, O.D., Ph.D. (NBEO)
Christopher S.Wolfe, student (AOSA)

The ultimate goal is a program that would be endorsed by optometric organizations and made available to optometrists who have a need to demonstrate continued and advanced clinical competence to the public, third party payers and government agencies. The team will not produce an abstract concept, but rather an actual "product" that we can all look at, evaluate and discuss.

JOINT STATEMENT

The AOA, AAO, ARBO, NBEO, ASCO and AOSA choose to address board certification now because the profession has demonstrated a readiness to consider the issue in a comprehensive, inclusive manner. This readiness is evidenced by 10 of the 57 "preferred futures" of the Optometry 2020 Summits relating to competence and certification. Additionally, one of the outcomes of the recently held National Optometric Continuing Education Conference states, "there be renewed dialogue involving all stakeholders to reassess continued competence and board certification". Finally, some optometric organizations have already created elements of board certification including educational tracts and testing for advanced competence in specialty areas.

THIS STATEMENT HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY THE FOLLOWING PRESIDENTS

American Academy of Optometry President Richard E. Weisbarth, O.D., FAAO	Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry President Robert M. Easton, O.D., FAAO
American Optometric Association President C. Thomas Crooks, III, O.D.	Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry President Hector Santiago, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO
American Optometric Student Association President Caleb Schoonover	National Board of Examiners in Optometry President Donovan L. Crouch, O.D., FAAO

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q – Isn’t this ABOP (American Board of Optometric Practice) revisited?

A – No, this is an effort to address board certification in an all-inclusive, open manner with key optometric organizations working together to create the final product.
Q – Do we really need board certification?

A – Over 250 participants of the Optometry 2020 Summits put forward 10 "preferred futures" dealing with continued and advanced competence. Additionally, one of the outcomes of the recently held National Optometric Continuing Education Conference states, "there be renewed dialogue involving all stakeholders to reassess continued competence and board certification". Some optometric organizations have already created elements of board certification including educational tracks and testing for advanced competence in specialty areas. The project team is charged with developing board certification for Optometry because board certification is the "common currency" of continued and advanced competence in health care.
Q – Will optometric organizations outside those represented by the project team have the opportunity to provide input?

A – Absolutely. This will be an open and inclusive process.
Q – What is the timeline for development of a board certification program?

A – The actual timeline and process will be determined by the project team. We anticipate the program development will take up to 24 months.

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