Board Certified vs Board Eligible Ophthalmologist: What It Means and How to Check in Two Minutes

What "board certified" actually means for an eye surgeon

In ophthalmology, "board certified" refers to certification by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO). The ABO describes itself as an independent nonprofit organization responsible for certifying ophthalmologists, the eye physicians and surgeons, in the United States.

The ABO has a long history. It was founded in 1916 and was the first American organization established to certify medical specialists. Today it is one of 24 specialty boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and the American Medical Association. Together, those 24 ABMS member boards certify 38 specialties and 90 subspecialties.

According to the ABO, certification confirms that an ophthalmologist has completed specialized medical training and passed comprehensive examinations. That is different from a medical license. The ABO puts it plainly: a medical license is the legal minimum to practice medicine and does not confirm specialty training to care for your eyes.

What "board eligible" means, and why it has a time limit

Board eligible is a temporary status, not a lesser kind of certificate. Under the ABO's Board Eligibility Policy, revised in January 2023, a doctor must pass both the written and oral certification exams within seven years of graduating from residency.

During those seven years, the policy allows the following:

• Candidates may refer to themselves as "Board Eligible."
• They may take the Written Qualifying Examination each time it is offered.
• Once they pass the written exam, they may take the Oral Examination.
• Extensions beyond seven years may be considered case by case for extenuating circumstances, such as a serious health problem.

In practical terms, a board eligible ophthalmologist has finished training and is somewhere in the exam process. Many newly graduated surgeons fall into this group, simply because the exams take time to schedule and complete after residency. The status tells you where a doctor is in the process. It does not, by itself, tell you about skill or outcomes, and this site cannot judge those for any individual doctor.

License, board eligible, board certified: side by side

How to check an ophthalmologist's board status in two minutes

You do not need to rely on a website bio, a framed certificate or a staff member's word. The ABO runs a public lookup, and it uses the same three labels shown in the table above.

1. Open the ABO searchGo to the ABO's physician search. You can enter a name, a location or both.
2. Search by last name firstStart with the surname and state. Adding a first name or city can narrow a common name, but see the location caution below.
3. Read the status labelLook for Board Eligible, Certified or Not Certified. These are the ABO's own definitions.
4. Check the datesFor certified doctors, the verification page explains that results show the year the doctor was first certified and any renewals through Continuing Certification.
5. Cross-check if anything looks offRun the same name on ABMS Certification Matters, or call the ABO at 610-664-1175. The ABO says it will respond to inquiries from the public about certification and the certification process.

A second free option: ABMS Certification Matters

The American Board of Medical Specialties runs Certification Matters, which it describes as a free service for patients and their families to see whether a doctor is board certified by one of the 24 member boards. It is useful if you want to check several doctors across specialties, for example an ophthalmologist and an anesthesiologist for the same procedure.

Results from Certification Matters are intended for patient use only and are not valid for use by professional organizations. Organizations that need official written verification from the ABO must mail a request with a $50 check payable to the American Board of Ophthalmology. As a patient, you do not need written verification to make an informed choice.

Don't skip the Colorado license check

Board certification and a state license answer different questions. Certification speaks to specialty training and exams. The license is what allows a doctor to practice in Colorado at all, and the state's records are where you would find public discipline.

• Use the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations online services, which include Verify a Colorado License, online complaint submission and licensee/discipline list downloads.
• Colorado's healthcare professional profile records (HPPP) have been fully integrated into the Division's Online Services system, so you no longer need a separate portal.
• Skip VeriDoc. That service sends a doctor's Colorado license verification to other licensing boards and is not built for patients.

For a full walkthrough of license status, discipline records and certification together, see our guide on how to check an eye surgeon in Colorado.

How to read what you find

A lookup result is a fact, not a verdict. Here is how to think about each outcome without over- or under-reacting.

• Certified: the doctor holds an ABO certificate. Check the first-certified year and whether renewals through Continuing Certification appear.
• Board Eligible: the doctor finished residency within the last seven years and is still in the exam process. It is reasonable to ask the office where they are in that process.
• Not Certified: the doctor is not certified by the ABO. That can have many explanations, including a name mismatch in your search. Confirm by name and state, try Certification Matters, or call the ABO before deciding anything.
• No result at all: try spelling variations, a maiden or former name, or a search without the city. Then use the phone option.

Questions worth asking the office

Front-desk staff field credential questions all the time. Asking is normal, and a clear answer is a good sign. You might ask:

• Is the surgeon certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, or currently board eligible?
• If board eligible, when did the surgeon finish residency?
• Will the surgeon I meet at consultation be the one performing the procedure?
• Is the surgeon's Colorado license active?

These questions apply whether you are exploring LASIK and refractive surgery in Denver or getting a referral for cataract surgery in Denver. Verify the answers yourself using the steps above.

Where eye surgeons train locally

Colorado's academic ophthalmology department is the University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology. Its home is the UCHealth Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. Wherever a doctor trained, and whether they practice at an academic center or a private practice, the same ABO lookup applies.

A common mix-up: how many boards are there?

You may see older articles state that the ABO sits alongside 22 other boards under ABMS. One JAMA Ophthalmology article uses that figure, but it is dated. The ABO and ABMS currently list 24 member boards. Another dated document, a Nationwide Children's summary, notes that the ABMS Board Eligibility Policy took effect January 1, 2012, and lists a seven-year window for ophthalmology. For current rules, always go to the ABO's own policy page.

If you are just getting started, our independent guide to finding an eye surgeon in Denver covers the bigger picture, from referrals to what to expect at a first consultation.