Initial Application - The applicant fills out the initial application on ARBO's website and pays the $50.00 application fee.
Continuing Education Requirement - The applicant accrues 50 Hours of COPE-Accredited CE over a 2-year period. This 2-year period may begin up to 12 months preceding receipt and payment of CELMO application.
A minimum of 20 hours is required from COPE Category B (Ocular Disease).
A minimum of 20 hours is required from COPE Category C (Related Systemic Disease).
A minimum of 10 hours is required from COPE Category A (Clinical Optometry), B, or C.
Attendance of these courses must be entered into OE TRACKER before the credit will be given towards the CELMO application. CE attendance certificates may be faxed to the ARBO office to be entered into OE TRACKER.
NPDB Requirement - Once the CE requirements have been met and verified, the applicants is notified and given instructions to request the National Practitioner Date Bank Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank Self-Query. Once the applicant has received the report, they must sign and date the report and forward to the ARBO office.
Optometry Degree Verification - The applicant completes the request for verification of optometry degree form and faxes it back to the ARBO office. This form gives permission for the school to release the information to ARBO. Verification from the school of the date of the graduation on the school.s letterhead must be received before the CELMO certificate can be issued.
National Board Exam Scores - ARBO requests the National Board exam scores for the applicant from the National Board of Examiners in Optometry.
CELMO Certificate - The applicant pays a $200 fee for processing the CELMO certificate. The original CELMO certificate is mailed to the applicant. The certificate is good for two years. Upon request from the applicant or the licensing board of optometry, copies of any and all documents can be forwarded by the ARBO office.
Renewal of Certificate - For renewal of the CELMO certificate, the applicant must accrue 50 hours of COPE-Accredited CE over a 2-year period beginning from the date the initial certificate is issued or each subsequently issued renewal certificate. There is a $100.00 renewal certificate fee.
