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Opinion: The Benefits of Certification

by David Meldrum, ABOM, NCLE

It's a virtual alphabet soup when it comes to deciphering the initials that follow an eyecare professsional's name. We all know what MD and OD stand for, but what about ABOC, NCLE, ABOC-AC, NCLE-AC, or ABOM?

What do those mean and why are they important to you?

The American Board of Opticianry (ABO) certifies opticians who dispense and work with spectacles, while the National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) certifies ophthalmic dispensers who fit and work with contact lenses. Both are not-for-profit organizations dedicated to the voluntary certification of ophthalmic dispensers.

Wait a minute!

Would anyone go through a certification process if it's voluntary?

The answer is "yes" for more than 38,000 ophthalmic dispensers who are currently certified by the ABO and the NCLE. These individuals have become certified by passing examinations that test the skills and knowledge required for competency in their field.

But, it's about more than initials. Certification, whether it's voluntary or not, means that the individual put in the effort and energy to earn something special.

Certification is a professional distinction that colleagues, the industry, employers, and the public can recognize as proof of an achievement. It tells the public that the ophthalmic dispenser with whom they are working takes pride in his or her profession and maintains a full portfolio of skills and knowledge on a continual basis.

Certification not only speaks to the public, but to employers who recognize it as a standard of competence. When hiring for their practice, as many as 75 percent of employers surveyed in a recent poll said that they gave preference to applicants who were certified, and paid them higher beginning salaries. And since ABO/NCLE certification is nationwide, it is recognized wherever an individual plans to work.

The exams are offered in May and November at sites around the U.S., and there are numerous resources available to help an individual prepare for all of the exams, including courses at ABO/NCLE's first-ever National Education Conference that is slated to be held from September 19 through 21 in Cincinnati.

It is an alphabet soup when it comes to the initials following an eyecare professional's name.

What is important to remember is that they are more than just initials.

To learn more about certification or the National Education Conference, visit www.abo-ncle.org or www.abo-ncle-conference.com.