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SECO hosts board certification forum
ATLANTA – Members of the six-organization Joint Board Certification Project Team (JBCPT) held an open educational forum here at SECO 2009 and at a follow-up press conference discussed the differences in the current model vs. the process proposed 10 years ago.
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Jeffrey L. Weaver, OD, the JBCPT media contact, told PCON that a major difference is the equal participation of the major organizations. The failed American Board of Optometric Practice was solely driven by the American Optometric Association (AOA), he said. “Also, the new model for initial certification is more challenging, making it more credible and defensible, while offering a broad range of activities to qualify for the exam,” he said.
AOA President-Elect Randolph E. Brooks, OD, said at the press conference that the profession will vote on the framework over the next few months. If adopted, “We suspect it will take at least 1 year to implement,” he said. “You will probably not find optometrists board certified in less than 2 to 3 years from now.”
Dr. Brooks asserted this process is being driven by external sources. “We expect to see health care reform as part of President Obama’s administration, and we don’t want optometry to be left out,” he said. “We spent a great deal of time catching up to optometry being left out in Medicare. It took us 22 years to get involved. We’re trying to be forward thinking and proactive. We have to ensure inclusion and nondiscrimination for optometry.”
The AOA, American Academy of Optometry, Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, American Optometric Student Association, Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry and National Board of Examiners in Optometry hold seats on the JBCPT.
 The JBCPT hosted an open forum and a press conference at SECO 2009. Left to right: Thomas L. Lewis, OD, PhD, FAAO (AAO); Randolph E. Brooks, OD (AOA); David A. Cockrell, OD (AOA); Mary Jo Stiegemeier, OD, FAAO (AAO); Arol Augsburger, OD (ASCO); Mary E. Phillips, OD (AOSA); William B. Rafferty, OD (ARBO); Christina M. Sorenson, OD (ARBO); Jack E. Terry, OD (NBEO); Donovan L. Crouch, OD (NBEO); Larry J. Davis, OD (ASCO). Not pictured: Christopher S. Wolfe, OD (AOSA). Image: Hemphill N |
For more information:
- Details on the proposed board certification model are available to members and non-members on the project team member Web sites: www.aoa.org, www.opted.org, www.aaopt.org, www.optometry.org, www.arbo.org, www.theaosa.org.