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Procedures and Timeline
Internationally Trained Ophthalmologists Policy » Procedures and Timeline
1. Application: May 2023 – December 31, 2023 All applications received by December 31, 2023 will be reviewed for completeness. If an application is incomplete the applicant will be notified and provided a two-week period to submit the requested information. All…
Data Collection, Use, Sharing, and Research
Data Collection, Use, Sharing, and Research
Policy Statement The American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) collects data from candidates and diplomates through normal business operations as an independent certifying board of practicing ophthalmologists. Sources that provide data, consisting of personally…
Promoting Safety, Equity, and Opportunity in Ophthalmology
Promoting Safety, Equity, and Opportunity in Ophthalmology
For centuries, systemic and institutional racism in the United States has harmed and killed countless individuals, with a sadly disproportionate and more devastating extent in the Black community. All physicians implicitly subscribe to the maxim primum non nocere:…
ADA & Testing Accommodations Policy
ADA & Testing Accommodations Policy
The American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) supports the principles of and complies with its obligations under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended, and the implementing regulations of the U.S. Department of Justice, including those at 28…
Internationally Trained Ophthalmologists Policy
Internationally Trained Ophthalmologists Policy
Revised: 11/2023 Certification by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) provides assurance to the public and the medical profession that a physician has successfully completed an evaluation designed to assess the knowledge, experience, and skills required for the…
Certificate Name Change & Degree Policy
Certificate Name Change & Degree Policy
Updated December 2022 In support of our mission to serve the public, the American Board of Ophthalmology publishes accurate, timely, and verifiable information about the qualifications and competencies of board-certified ophthalmologists. It is necessary that all…
Program Requirements
Internationally Trained Ophthalmologists Policy » Program Requirements
The ITO pathway to certification is designed to ensure that the applicant satisfies experience and performance requirements that meet the core competencies developed by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and the American Board of Medical…
Guidelines for Documentation
ADA & Testing Accommodations Policy » Guidelines for Documentation
The ABO requires candidates or diplomates to provide only the documentation that is reasonable and necessary to establish that the candidate or diplomate (i) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; and (ii) how…
Board Eligibility Policy
Board Eligibility Policy
Revised January 2023 The Board Eligibility Policy requires successful completion of American Board of Ophthalmology certification requirements (both written and oral examinations) within seven (7) years of residency graduation. During the seven-year Board…
Osteopathic Program Graduate Policy
Osteopathic Program Graduate Policy
Effective January 2023 Certification by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) provides assurance to the public and the medical profession that a physician has successfully completed an evaluation designed to assess the knowledge, experience, and skills required…
Leave of Absence Policy for Residents
Leave of Absence Policy for Residents
Leaves of absence for vacation, medical issues, parental leave, or other personal reasons are essential for resident well-being and may be granted at the discretion of the institution’s department chair and/or residency program director. Residency training in…
Pregnant & Nursing Mother Accommodations Policy
Pregnant & Nursing Mother Accommodations Policy
Revised 12/2022 The American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) supports mothers in ophthalmology and provides accommodations for the Written Qualifying Examination and the Oral Examination for nursing mothers and mothers with medical conditions due to pregnancy. The…
Deadline for Requests
ADA & Testing Accommodations Policy » Deadline for Requests
Candidates or diplomates with disabilities who believe they may need accommodations in the place or manner in which examinations are administered should submit the request to the Board office. The request should identify the nature and extent of the disability and the…
Clinically Inactive Status Policy
Clinically Inactive Status Policy
Revised 12/2020 The Board is committed to supporting diplomates in meeting Continuing Certification requirements. The Board recognizes that some Board Certified physicians leave the practice of ophthalmology, and in some cases, these diplomates wish to retain, and are…
Certificate Ordering Policy
Certificate Ordering Policy
Revised 9/2021 Newly certified and recertified diplomates (with certificates expiring 12/31/2025 and later) will be granted 2 free certificates. Ordering Process To place an order, follow the steps below: Log in to your Status Page with your email address and…
Rules, Regulations, & Administrative Policies
Rules, Regulations, & Administrative Policies
The following document serves as the official Rules & Regulations of the American Board of Ophthalmology as of March 17, 2023 along with a compendium of administrative policies currently in effect. It is the responsibility of candidates and diplomates to periodically…
Military Personnel Refund Policy
Military Personnel Refund Policy
Revised 04/30/2015 Active duty United States military service members will be refunded 50% of all paid certification and Continuing Certification fees paid in 2015 and forward. To claim this refund, physicians should submit the standard registration or annual fee…
Review of Documentation, Decision, & Appeals
ADA & Testing Accommodations Policy » Review of Documentation, Decision, & Appeals
The ABO will do an initial review and will notify the candidate or diplomate within four (4) weeks after receipt of the request whether the request is granted. If the ABO does not find appropriate and sufficient evidence on which to base a decision to grant a requested…
Retired Status Policy
Retired Status Policy
Diplomates no longer engaged in the active practice of ophthalmology and who have ended their professional career may notify the ABO to establish Retired Status by submitting a form to info@abop.org. Submission constitutes official notification and acknowledgement of…
Annual Fee Policy
Annual Fee Policy
Revised 02/2021 The American Board of Ophthalmology establishes fees for Continuing Certification annually based on contract agreements with testing vendors and the overall cost of administering the program. Fees cover the 10-year cost of recertification for all…
Eligibility
Internationally Trained Ophthalmologists Policy » Eligibility
Applicants must have a current valid and unrestricted license to practice in the United States for a minimum of five (5) consecutive years (since January 1, 2018). A license that permits practice only at a specific academic institution is not considered…
ADA Requirements
ADA & Testing Accommodations Policy » ADA Requirements
The ADA provides protection for persons with disabilities. Under the ADA persons with disabilities may be entitled to accommodations if they have a (i) a physical or mental impairment that (ii) substantially limits one or more major life activities within the meaning…
Costs
Internationally Trained Ophthalmologists Policy » Costs
The cost for participation in the ITO Program is $1,000 plus the then-current cost of the Written Qualifying Examination and Oral Examination. The $1,000 fee is nonrefundable.
Certificate Reinstatement Policy
Certificate Reinstatement Policy
Revised 1/2022 Diplomates whose certification has lapsed, been revoked, or been otherwise sanctioned must complete a reinstatement process detailed by the ABO in order to obtain a new certificate. Diplomates may re‐obtain ABO certification by completing the…