This is critical information for anyone contemplating taking the ABO Board Certification Exam. 

ABO December 7, 2011 Press Release

For ABO Active Candidates to qualify under the rules of the phase-in period, they must apply to become an Active Candidate no later than April 30, 2013, submit their post- graduate requirements for verification by the ABO no later than June 30, 2013, then take the ABO Board Certification Examination no later than January 2014.

Upcoming Exam Dates for the initial 3 year Phase-In are as follows:

2012 July 15-31

2013 January* and July*

2014 January*

* exact dates to be announced

The ABO has released the detailed outline for the Board Certification Exam.

The American Board of Optometry (ABO) has completed the development of the Board Certification Examination Test Specifications/Content Outline for the inaugural examination. The examination window is scheduled for June 1-18, 2011, at over 400 Prometric Test Centers in the United States and throughout the world.
Today’s release provides a broad overview of the examination; the American Board of Optometry will release a more detailed content outline in a few weeks.
Active Candidates who have had their post-graduate educational requirements verified by May 16, 2011 will be able to reserve a slot for the inaugural examination in June. The exam will take approximately 6 hours (a morning and an afternoon session) and contain 240 test items.

To read the complete press release or to apply to become an Active Candidate go to the ABO website.