Welcome Board Certified Ocularist!

Motion to : accept the new Operational Principles for the new NEBO Scheme.

Motion made by: John Imm 

Second: Cat Burkat

Vote:   7-yes   0-no Date: May 11, 2020

Starting with the recent Certificants that have successfully passed the certification exam given in 2019 and all new candidates from January 1, 2020, forward, all candidates will automatically begin the new 4-year recertification scheme structure.  After a transition period to accommodate all current BCOs registering or re-certifying in the next 3 years, all B.C.O.s will Re-certify every 4 (four) years with 200 credits per the new scheme.

The Registration portion of the cycle, and the credit requirement will be eliminated by the new 4 (four) year Recertification scheme.

There will be no “look backs” on credits after the transition is made by the B.C.O. into the new 4 (four) year recertification cycle.  All future credits will only be valid for 4 years. From the Issue date to the expiration date of the current certificate. 

Financially NEBO will operate by charging a yearly “Maintenance of Certification” (MOC) to the B.C.O. and by charging a “flat fee” for pre-approved programs/events/meetings.  

All fees listed are subject to change. A master fee list will be evaluated on an annual basis. 

A grace period or “suspension” should accommodate most complications with life events without total revocation or loss of Certification under reasonable time frames. (see below)

Additional “non-prior approved” program and credit awards’ will still be available at a current fee of $10 (ten) US dollar per credit cost to the applicant with a $50 (fifty) US dollar non-refundable application fee. Must be submitted within the calendar year to have credits reviewed and verified.

Initial certification will include a full-size certificate with an initial issue date (Jan 1 of the year results are valid unless delayed by exam results) and final expiration date (Dec 31, 4 calendar years after issue date).  

Certificate numbers will be as follows: Initial year of certification (or new issue date, if certification has lapsed and the B.C.O. has certified anew)- Personal ID number.    Ex: 19-270

The ID numbers will not change and will remain the same for recertification unless a lapse by the B.C.O. results in a loss of certification.  In that event when the lapsed B.C.O. later retakes the initial certification exam again, the new Certification becomes a new initial year of Certification for that B.C.O. and a new record begins.

- An 8x10 certificate will be sent for all subsequent recertifications every 4 (four) years.

      -    All Certificates for Board Certified Ocularists will begin on January 1 and end 

4 (four) calendar years later on December 31.

In the event of lapse of recertification, the previous certificate and issue date is no longer used. Once the B.C.O. successfully re-exams, they will be issued a new issue date and large certificate. Subsequently, the recertification cycle will follow the new issue date. The lapse in recertification cancels the old “first certified date” as the candidate is completely retested and started anew.

To become a B.C.O. or recertify;

1. All B.C.O.'s will need to be “in good standing” (see glossary)

2. All B.C.O.'s will need to be “current” (see glossary)

3. All B.C.O.'s must attest to yearly “non-criminal background affidavit” statement 

   when paying their MOC.  (see below and glossary terms)

Recertification Cycle;

A B.C.O. must re-certify as part of maintaining their certification by one of two processes every 4 (four) calendar years, a B.C.O. will stay “current” under the one of the following processes;

Process I- In the event that a B.C.O. has less than 200 CE Credits, the B.C.O. must take the Written Certification Exam.

- The B.C.O. must successfully complete the written exam before their expiration date.

- The B.C.O. is responsible for paying the applicable “On-site Written Exam Fee” or “off-site Written exam fee”.  

- If the B.C.O. fails the 1st attempt at the written exam, the B.C.O. may arrange for an additional offsite testing (additional offsite fees apply) to pass exam within expiration date window. 

- Failure to complete the exam during the Recertification time frame will result in the B.C.O. being “not Current” will be placed in the “suspension” status on the website.

- If the B.C.O. fails the 2nd attempt, Certification is revoked immediately per date of test failure notification.

- Failure in Process I will require a complete re-exam of original certification requirements to regain B.C.O. Certification. 

Process II- Submit 200 Approved CE credits. 

(Credits/paperwork must be submitted no later than Dec 1, 30 days before the certificate expiration date. CE credits totals may be submitted anytime in the fourth year of the recertification cycle if already obtained. 

- Credits in excess will not be rolled over to the next recertification cycle and all credits expire when the certificate expires. 

- Credits must be obtained from the certificate issue date to certificate expiration date. 

- There are no additional fees for recertification if using prior-approved credits. 

- $300 late fee for all paperwork/credits received after Dec 1, of expiration year.

- A maximum of 100 “Administrative Credits may be used per recertification cycle.

Credits for Recertification

Only three types of credits;

      -     Pre-Approved Credits

- Non-Pre-Approved Credits.

- Administrative Credits

Pre-Approved Credits (PAC’s)

Any education program that wishes to offer Continuing education credits may apply under the pre-approved credits process. The attendees will not have to pay any fees to NEBO to have the credits accepted. 

- Pay a flat non-refundable fee of $250 for program review and credit assignment per         program/event/meeting.

- Pay a flat fee of $7,000 per program/meeting that will include up to 100 (one hundred) credits for that event only for the approved courses.  Changes within the event and re-assignment of credits is included as well as credit adjustments made after the program/event/meeting audit.

- The Pre-Approved Credits program fee also includes any distance learning credits given 30 days prior to the last day of the program/event/meeting. 

- Programs/event/meetings must be submitted for NEBO credit assignment at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the program/event/meeting.

- NEBO will assign a credit total and breakdown within 7 Days of receiving application based on the rules governing credit assignment for CE credits. 

- A digital badge will be issued showing the specific program is a NEBO Approved Program. This badge will be custom for each event and organization and the Credit opportunities will be listed on our website free of charge for “Pre-Approved Credit opportunities”.

- The “Pre-Approved Program” fee includes credits for program chairs, moderators, instructors, and/or presenters of that program/event/meeting.

- Fee does not include credits for an organization’s administration but may be awarded through the “Non-Pre-Approved program credits” pathway. (See “Administration Credits”) 

Non-Pre-Approved Credits (NPAC’s)

Any B.C.O. that attends a program/course/meeting, gives a lecture/course, or contributes to a written publication that is directly related to the field of Ocularistry is eligible for CE credits.  B.C.O.'s may submit an application for “Non-Pre-Approved Credits”.  All fees and applications must be completed within the calendar year of the event/lecture/publication to be able to verify validity and attendance in order to receive credits.

- Submit application with required evidence of attendance plus $50 non-refundable application fee.

- NEBO will assign credits based off time/content/validity and contact the B.C.O. with a credit total within 30 days of receiving the application. 

- The B.C.O. may confirm or deny credits, a decision must be made within 14 calendar days of receipt of credit total opportunities.

- The applicant can reject the assigned credits with no further fees or obligations to either party by stating the rejection in writing to the NEBO Board with that 14-day window.

- If confirmed, an invoice for the credit total will be sent at $10/credit and all transactions must be completed within 14 calendar days of acceptance.

- There are no “non-pre-approved” credit limits per year for rerctification.

- A confirmation “credit letter” will be sent to the applicant B.C.O. upon receipt of payment.  This letter will also be saved electronically to their individual file and a yearly running credit total for NPAs will be tracked within the master database at no charge.

Administrative Credits (AC’s)

- A maximum of 25 credits per year will be allowed for NEBO Board Members, Committee Chairman, Committee Members, SMEs and examiners per current Credits assignment rules.

- Credits assigned “Administrative Credits” based off job title/duty per current rules and standards.

- Credits not covered by Approved Program fee may be applied for separately by application and subject to application fee and $10 (ten) US dollar / credit fee.

- Must apply within the calendar year and all credits expire after 4 years.

Exam Eligibility

Pathway I- Complete a NEBO approved education program (ASO College of Ocularistry or ASO Education Program). Note: Graduates of NEBO approved programs must require their members to complete 10,000 hours of fitting and fabricating ocular prosthetics under supervision of a BCO in good standing and current.

Applicant must provide;

-evidence of start date

-evidence of continued work duration

-evidence of completion of time requirement

-completion of educational program

-Letter from Sponsoring B.C.O. proving compliance.

Pathway II- 14,000 hours experience in fitting and fabricating ocular prosthetics.

Applicant must provide;

-evidence of start date

-evidence of continued work duration

-evidence of completion of time requirement

- at least 2 (two) referrals from an ophthalmologist/Oculoplastic surgeon 

- at least 2 (two) B.C.O.'s for referral 

Board Service (Approved)

The Board will be made up of at least 4 B.C.O.’s, 1 Appointed AAO member, and a public member. Opportunities for other Board elected members will be handled on a case by case or organization by organization basis to avoid any undue influence. 

Board Service is a three-year term. A series of three terms may be served concurrently. Once nine years of service is met, member must resign from the board for at least 365 days before a new term of service may be started.  

A nomination process will be used to vote in a new B.C.O. Board Member. An open call for nominations will be sent to the entire B.C.O.  population. The Nomination period will be open for 14 days, at which point the current NEBO Board.  Each nominee will be contacted by the NEBO Administrator/Executive Director and informed of their nomination, expected duties, opportunities of service, confirm the nominee’s willingness to serve a minus three-year term and attend at least one Board meeting per year. After a criminal background search is completed all those nominated will be placed on a secure ballot constructed by the Administrator /Executive Director with the nominees arranged in alphabetical order and forwarded to the Board for a secure vote. The ballots will be sent to the BOD by secure mail or verifiable email for election by the Board.  The BOD shall complete their vote in 5 (five) days or less. The vote by anonymous ballot shall then be tallied and processed by the NEBO Administrator/Executive Director and public member within 10 (ten) days and report the vote to the Board of the winner(s). This entire process will be concluded within 30 days of the initial nomination email. The elected nominee will be contacted directly by the Chairperson of NEBO for duty assignment. The process will be the same for all positions on the NEBO Board.

NEW Suspension Inclusion with Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Fee

- A fee for “Maintenance of Certification” or MOC of $250/calendar year will be due no later than January 31 of each calendar year.  

- The payment of the yearly MOC will allow the B.C.O. to remain in “Good Standing” status with NEBO (see glossary for terms of “Good Standing”)

- There will be a $100 late fee added after January 31st.  The BCO has until February 28th to pay MOC and late fee.

- If no payment is received by February 28th, the B.C.O. is placed under “Suspension” classification. (see glossary for terms of “Suspension”) 

- In the event of Suspension the B.C.O. can regain “in good standing“ status by paying MOC due for the year,  the late fee ($100) if paid by February 28th and Suspension fee ($500) if after February 28th before the end of the calendar year in which the BCO failed to pay the MOC.  

- Once the back due MOC, late fee and suspension fees are paid in full the Suspension is lifted.  The B.C.O. status will then be changed back to “In good standing” (see glossary for terms). 

- Failure to comply with any and all of the three elements for re-certification will result in a B.C.O. being placed on Suspension status until corrected, or the Certificate is revoked for failure to comply at the end of the Suspension year.

- During the “suspension” time period the B.C.O. is listed as “not in good standing” or “not current” for all credentialing verification inquiries, register listings and other communications with NEBO.

- Yearly ethics sign off- A B.C.O. may not qualify for recertification requirements even if they are “Current” on credits and “in good standing” financially if they have been found guilty or convicted of any crime more severe than a simple misdemeanor criminal offense.  Afford pleas, bench agreements or other types of reduced charges associated with misdemeanor level charges also apply.  Sexual conduct/offense registry also disqualify a candidate or B.C.O. from certification or recertification. All code of conduct violations are based on public court documentation of a conviction or plea.  An appeal hearing process shall be accommodated.

- Failure of the B.C.O. to pay the yearly MOC, late fees and suspension fee by December 31st, of the “suspension” calendar year will result in revocation of Board Certification at Midnight (CST) on December 31st .

NEW Retiree Status

- A B.C.O. that has retired “Current” and “in good standing” has the option of applying for “Retiree Status” or using the acronym “B.C.O. (Ret.)” for the remainder of his or her life.  

- A form requesting use of this status must be sent to NEBO prior to the expiration of their current certificate. 

- The B.C.O.’s standing will be evaluated and a response form will be sent back to the B.C.O. within 14 days with explanation on how to correct inequities for approval.  

- “B.C.O. (Ret.)” will be used to denote those who have retired from the field. 

- This is a NON-BILLING (free) status and affords the B.C.O. a listing in the classification of “Retired B.C.O.s” on our website and other notifications until the time of death. For Retired B.C.O.s that continue to stay active in education, the use of B.C.O. (Ret.) will be appropriate.  

End of Motion.