American Board of Optometry

What American Board of Optometry does

The American Board of Optometry (ABO) is a 501(c)(6) Missouri nonprofit organization founded in 2009 by the four leading US optometric bodies — the American Optometric Association (AOA), American Optometric Student Association (AOSA), American Academy of Optometry (AAO), and Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO). Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, ABO administers the only optometric board certification recognized by CMS and accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), conferring the voluntary Diplomate credential to licensed optometrists in the US and Canada who pass a comprehensive written examination. Its core product is board certification, supported by a mandatory Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program that includes the triannual Continuous Assessment Program (CAP), Self-Assessment Modules (SAMs), Performance in Practice Modules (PPMs), and COPE-accredited webinars. ABO has layered additional credentialing products on top of the core Diplomate credential: the Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Glaucoma and Cornea & Contact Lens (launched June 2023) and the Student Candidate Program (launched January 2025) for third- and fourth-year optometry students.

ABO's technology stack is built on the Learning Builder platform, which manages applications, MOC tracking, CE logging, and certificate access for candidates, Diplomates, and students. Board certification exams are delivered through Scantron Testing Centers across the US and to military personnel overseas, replacing the earlier Prometric relationship in 2021. The organization integrates with OE Tracker for state licensure CE credit transmission and partners with Meazure Learning Centers, Authentic Testing, and Heuristics Solutions for secure records management. Free CE webinars are archived on Vimeo, while COPE-accredited courses are sold through the ABO website.

ABO's revenue model combines one-time application and exam fees, recurring annual MOC subscription fees for existing Diplomates, and freemium continuing education (free for Diplomates, pay-per-webinar for non-Diplomates). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: ABO relies on its founding professional associations for distribution, presence at Optometry's Meeting, Academy, and SECO conferences, a State and School Ambassador volunteer network, quarterly webinars, and digital channels including LinkedIn, Facebook, and the On Board newsletter. The organization operates with a small paid staff and depends on volunteer networks to reach the licensed optometry profession across the US and Canada.

Name

American Board of Optometry

Legal name

American Board of Optometry

Website

https://americanboardofoptometry.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The American Board of Optometry is a nonprofit certification body founded in 2009 by AOA, AOSA, AAO, and ASCO that awards the voluntary Diplomate credential — the only optometric certification recognized by CMS and NCCA-accredited — to licensed optometrists in the US and Canada, supported by a recurring Maintenance of Certification program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Board Certification Fees: Candidates pay application fees (non-refundable) and exam fees to become certified. Early bird discounts available for those who register before deadlines. Exam rescheduling/cancellation fees apply.
2. Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program Fees: Annual MOC fees for existing Diplomates to maintain their certification status. Includes CAP assessments and Self-Assessment Modules.
3. Continuing Education Courses: Free CE courses and webinars for Diplomates. Non-Diplomates can purchase access to webinars for 2 COPE credits each. Additional $20 annual fee for OE Tracker upload service to Learning Builder.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The American Board of Optometry provides voluntary board certification for licensed optometrists in the United States and Canada. Its core offerings include the Diplomate credential achieved through the Board Certification examination, ongoing Maintenance of Certification (MOC) with annual requirements and continuing education, the Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) for specialty practice areas, and a Student Candidate Program enabling optometry students to begin the certification pathway before graduation.

Product overview

The American Board of Optometry offers a comprehensive certification ecosystem for optometrists consisting of a core Board Certification program leading to the Diplomate credential, supported by a mandatory Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program that includes the Continuous Assessment Program (CAP), Self-Assessment Modules (SAMs), Performance in Practice Modules (PPMs), and COPE-accredited webinars. ABO has expanded its portfolio with a Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) for specialty recognition in Glaucoma and Cornea & Contact Lens, and a Student Candidate Program for optometry students. All certified professionals access the Learning Builder portal for tracking requirements, and the public can verify credentials through the Board Certification Verification tool.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CAQ (Certificate of Added Qualification): Certificate of Added Qualification credential for Diplomates demonstrating advanced knowledge in Glaucoma or Cornea & Contact Lens

Products and services

• Board Certification (Diplomate Credential) Voluntary board certification examination and Diplomate credential for licensed optometrists in the United States and Canada, demonstrating clinical competency beyond state licensure.
• Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Ongoing annual certification maintenance program for Diplomates, including continuing education requirements, Self-Assessment Modules (SAMs), and Practice Performance Modules (PPMs).
• Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) Specialty credential recognizing additional qualifications in focused areas of optometric practice for Diplomates seeking expertise distinction.
• Student Candidate Program Program enabling optometry students to begin the certification pathway before graduation, providing early engagement with board certification standards.
• COPE-Accredited Continuing Education Webinars Continuing education courses accredited by the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE), available to non-Diplomates and recognized across optometric state licensing boards.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92.5% pass rate for first examination cohort (198/214)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Harrow, Inc.coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 May 2025Collaboration with Harrow, Inc. (Nasdaq: HROW) on continuing education webinars including 'No Tears Left to Cry: Restoring the Ocular Surface' and 'Shifting the Paradigm with VEVYE' featuring Steven Sorkin, OD. Partnership provides COPE-accredited content for diplomates while promoting Harrow pharmaceutical products.
• CRO (Clinical & Refractive Optometry) JournalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Collaboration to provide ABO Diplomates with additional learning opportunities. CRO Journal is an online, peer-reviewed, open-access platform. Articles are made available as COPE-accredited courses through a companion system, expanding ABO's CE library.
• ScantroncoreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2021Scantron Testing Centers serve as exam delivery partner for board certification exams beginning 2021. They deliver digital assessments and have delivered over 200 million digital assessments. Exam locations throughout the US and for military overseas. 98% candidate satisfaction reported.
• OptocaseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2017Partnership with Optocase, an online CE company based in Ontario, to deliver Self-Assessment Modules (SAMs). Optocase granted ABO access to COPE-approved CE course content to reformat into SAMs exclusively for Diplomates.
• Learning BuildercoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary online platform for candidates and Diplomates to manage applications, track MOC requirements, access CE resources, upload transcripts, and download certificates.
• Ocular Wellness & Nutrition Society (OWNS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on free COPE-accredited CE webinar 'Advances and Innovations in the Management of Ocular Diseases' presented by Dr. Pinakin Davey.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/americanboardofoptometry
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-board-of-optometry
• Xx.com/abopt

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Board of Optometry