Frequently
Asked Questions - Public
How can I find
out if my ophthalmologist is Board Certified?
Members of the public* can find out whether an ophthalmologist is certified
by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) by utilizing one of the
following methods:
- Call or write the Board at:
American Board of Ophthalmology
111 Presidential Boulevard, Suite 241
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004-1075
Phone 610-664-1175
- Refer to the publication The Official
American Board of Medical Specialties Directory of Board Certified
Medical Specialists (ABMS). This publication of Marquis Who’s
Who can be found in regional, main or medical libraries.
- Use the ABMS web page www.abms.org.
- Verify the certification of any
medical specialist certified by one of the 24 medical specialty
boards of the ABMS by calling 1-866-ASK-ABMS (275-2267).
*Except those seeking
information for credentialing purposes.
How do I find
a particular specialist or the qualifications of my own physician?
The ABO, as a certification body, is able to respond to any inquiry
from the public about certification and the certification process. However,
it is not within the purview of the ABO to recommend an ophthalmologist
or to comment on general eye care, surgical procedures or techniques.
Information of this sort can be found by contacting a local teaching
hospital in your area. If you cannot locate a teaching hospital in your
area, call the ABO office at 610-664-1175.
How can I find
out an ophthalmologist’s status with the ABO?
Although the ABO cannot issue statements of "eligibility"
for its examinations, it can state whether a physician is or is not
certified.
How can I find
a particular doctor’s address?
While the ABO cannot give specific information about a doctor's location,
this information is available in publications such as The Official American
Board of Medical Specialties Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists
(ABMS) or the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s www.aao.org
Member Directory.
Can I register
a complaint regarding a particular doctor?
The appropriate way to register your concerns is to write to the County
Medical Society in the county where the doctor practices. The ABO is
not an investigatory agency. It examines doctors who have successfully
completed an approved course of education, but has no regulative or
punitive powers.
What are the educational
requirements for a physician to become Board Certified?
Certification by the ABO is a voluntary process, and is the last step
in a long and intensive educational experience designed to assure quality
eye care for the American people. Please refer to the Certification Requirements. After successfully completing these requirements, a candidate
may sit for the Board certification process.
The Board certification
process includes two examinations: a written examination and an
oral examination. The
certification application
and examination process requires a minimum
of one and one-half to two years to complete, during which time the
candidate is usually in clinical practice or in a fellowship program
acquiring advanced training in one of the subspecialties of ophthalmology.
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