Purpose of the ABCMO

The American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides recognition and certification of US licensed optometrists who have chosen to specialize in medical optometry after receiving their professional degree and state license to practice. Certification is achieved by successfully completing an ACOE accredited one-year postgraduate residency training program in medical optometry, passing the written ACMO examination testing advanced competence in medical optometry, documenting two years practicing medical optometry immediately prior to application and other criteria of examination deemed appropriate.

What is Medical Optometry?

Medical Optometry encompasses the medical diagnosis, management and treatment of primary and secondary diseases and disorders of the human eye, adnexa and visual tracts.

Value of ABCMO Certification

ABCMO certification provides the public, credentialing committees and fellow medical practitioners a national, uniform indicator that an optometrist possesses specialized, advanced knowledge, skills and competence in the practice of medical optometry as governed by their state license of record.

ABCMO Board Information

Operational oversight of ABCMO is provided by a board of directors.

Additional ABMCO Information

ABCMO Basics (pdf)

Frequently Asked Questions (pdf)

Requirements for Certification (pdf)

Certification Fees (pdf)

Overview and History of ABCMO (pdf)

Organizations and Board Certification (pdf)

ABMCO Materials/Media

ABCMO Brochure (pdf)

ABCMO In RO (pdf)

Other Resource Links

American Board of Medical Specialties
www.abms.org

American Council on Optometric Education
www.aoa.org

Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry
www.arbo.org

National Association of VA Optometrists
www.navao.org

National Board of Examiners in Optometry
www.optometry.org

Optometric Residency Matching System
www.optometryresident.org

VA Optometry Service
www1.va.gov/optometry/