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.
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.
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 As you can see, we do enough to become an OD (as cpw said). We dont need more tests!
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
