American Board of Optometry Offers Opportunities for Both Students and Faculty
In early 2025, the American Board of Optometry (ABO) introduced a new Student Candidate program for third-year (second semester) and fourth-year students. The program builds upon our resident outreach and offers students an opportunity to engage in the board certification process early and at a significantly reduced fee. For a $25 application fee, students may apply for Student Candidate status and complete a program of 6-10 self-guided learning modules. Modules must be completed within 6 months of graduation, and upon receiving their license, applicants become Active Candidates for board certification, having already earned up to 30 points toward the 150 points needed for exam eligibility. Additionally, the learning modules can be a great study enhancement to prepare for National Board of Examiners of Optometry boards. This may be one of the biggest benefits to students who opt to participate in the program.
“We want to reach students early,” said Dr. Matthew Gerstberger, ABO’s Board Chair. “Starting your career with a commitment to lifelong learning benefits the optometrist, employers, the patients we serve, and the greater profession. ABO is focused on growing student involvement and is pleased to share we now have over 50 students participating in the Student Candidate program despite its late rollout this past spring.”
Dr. Cathy Hines, ABO’s Director of Assessment and Education, notes that ABO spends time each year visiting optometry schools to share information about board certification. And while that has been helpful, what really seems to engage students is personal testimony from trusted faculty and mentors. “ABO is excited to offer incentives for new graduates and residents to take the board certification exam, but what many forget is that any full-time faculty member, residency director, or site director is also eligible for a full waiver of the $950 exam fee,” explained Dr. Hines. “Board certification is primarily a credential for clinicians in active practice but can certainly be of value to those in an academic setting as well, and we want to encourage faculty who are interested to pursue it.”
Supporting our students and young ODs in a commitment to lifelong learning is a priority for ABO. It’s good for patient care and good for the profession. Through outreach and education, there has been close to a 50% increase in the number of residents earning board certification post-residency and a slight increase in the number of faculty becoming board certified. Having more faculty members become familiar with board certification increases the likelihood of students being exposed to it before graduation and more likely to apply earlier in their careers. Dr. Diane Adamczyk, ABO Immediate Past Chair, has been enlightening SUNY residents about the board certification process for years, and as a result, SUNY consistently has the highest number of residents taking the exam each year.
For information on any of our student, resident, or faculty initiatives, or to schedule an ABO visit to your school, please contact April Wilhelm at awilhelm@abopt.org or 314-983-4234.