new topic....should optometrists be board certified? This is a pretty hot topic in optometry recently. The AOA has proposed a way for optometrists to get the "board certified" title under their name. But, is it legit? Some say yes, some say no. What do you guys think??......... :)

I think... if you've already suffered through the national board licensure test (NBEO right?) .. taa daa BOARD certified. (granted, every optometrist practicing would be certified..) But, with national boards and state licensing exams.. and CE credits.. I really don't think we need ANOTHER test to prove we're qualified. Is this just something they cooked up to make OD's more "appealing" to the general public?

I have a feeling that they might have concocted this idea so that OD's would be more appealing to the masses.... I don't know the entire story, but it seems that way.

I heard somewhere that, that was basically one of those things that D.O.'s had to do.... Strange that optometry is more well known than osteopathy.... It doesn't seem necessary for another test to be administered if the reason is for public relations.... Very interesting....

How many boards or test does one take to be "officially" an optometrist? (Before answering this, please answer cpw's initial topic) I just want to get a better picture.... Thanx

Cpw, yes, this idea was concocted primarily to make optometry appeal to the general public. The reasoning was that having the title "board certified" under your name would get you more respect. :rolleyes:

Now, there are two sides to this and youll have to decide for yourself which you agree with. There are some optometrists that feel that this is a great idea! They say that this will give optometrists the respect they so deserve! What better way to get respect than to have the title "board certified" under your name. The general public knows what that means. It means you deserve respect.

Others say that this is a very bad idea They say that its a joke to say we are board certified after not going through a residency as med students do. They say that this will actually cause most to lose respect for the profession, especially among our medical colleagues (MDs, DOs, etc..)and the public.

Now, personally, I agree with the second opinion. There is absolutely no need for board certification in optometry as teh ABOP proposes it. We are already specialists on the eye. We are already technically board certified, but we just cant use the title the way med students do, and thats alright. Coming up with a crazy test and fee to make us "board certified" is pointless. All that would do, in my opinion, is make us look stupid. Wed be ridiculed by our health-care colleagues. You have to really look at what the ABOP is proposing to see what I mean. Its a flawed proposal. :cool:

And Popoy, here is a great example of what a student has to do to to actually become an OD. This article pokes fun at this idea of "board certification" for optometrists. Written by an OD, for ODs....... Review of Optometry article (http://www.revoptom.com/FEATURES/ABOP2.htm) As you can see, we do enough to become an OD (as cpw said). We dont need more tests! :rolleyes:

And if any of you want to read a great debate on the board certification of optometry check out this link........Another Review of Optometry Article (http://www.revoptom.com/FEATURES/ABOP.htm)
:cool:

great articles, abs1!! :D

The doctor interview one had me rolling! :)
I have to say too, on the second article, I totally agreed with the "no" guy. By making us take ANOTHER licensing exam.. it's basically making our OD degree at graduation worthless until we've been in pracitice 2 years, taken even MORE classes, paid more than 300 dollars, and passes ANOTHER test! It's rediculous. I can see them setting up a board certification test if you want to do a residency and specialize in say low vision, sports vision, peditric optometry, or contact lenses. But, to board certify people in general private practice.. it seems ludicrous to me. (and I hope I don't have to go through with it)

I haven't had the chance to read the second article, but the first one was an absolute BLAST!!!

It was nice to see a conversation type article.... IT's strange how you optometrist have to go all through this stuff and are still "not board certified".... strange.... It seems as if you folks do as much as any health professionals that ARE board certified....

I read the second article when I get a chance, but I certainly enjoy the first.... You're right it answered most of my questions. Thanx, :cool:

new topic....should optometrists be board certified? This is a pretty hot topic in optometry recently. The AOA has proposed a way for optometrists to get the "board certified" title under their name. But, is it legit? Some say yes, some say no. What do you guys think??......... :)

wow... this question was asked in 2001, and now the same question looms... I personally hate the idea of board certification

"optometric physician" "Optometric glaucoma specialist" now ......board certified. what's next....? optometric surgeon?........ Board certified as an optometrist will NOT give anyone more respect. Is it me, or are some people in this profession delusional?
Isn't Board certification given after completing a rigorous year of internship and the specialty/ residency years of your choice?
What business do we have with board certification? More money going into whose pockets?
I am totally disgusted with this crap!

Is it me, or are some people in this profession delusional?

It's not you.

I am totally disgusted with this crap!

Me too. It's a pointless exercise designed to line someone's pockets under the guise of helping optometrists.

what's next....? optometric surgeon?.


Why..... Yes. :laugh:

Why..... Yes. :laugh:

Speaking of delusional...

Just some house cleaning here..

duplicate post.

You disagreed with a thread I started several months back. Since then, I've only read cheap-shot after cheap-shot from you.


Explain what exactly why you can't get over me? If you're trying to show a dislike, I already got that from our first exchange. If it's a grudge, then perhaps you should get over it.



Your cheap shots are completely unprovoked, and I'd be more apt to ignore them, but to see it go on this long is just ludicrous.


Please explain what is your purpose in going on like this for all these months.

I just point out delusion when I see it. You keep talking about optometrists doing surgery, and I think it's delusional, so I say so. Nothing against you, I just think it's optometrists going after surgery is pretty pointless. There are about 1,000,000 things more important than getting a few cowboy ODs the right to do surgery.

I have never said anywhere, that optometrists should do surgery.