Continuing Education Providers

Getting a Speaker Approved

In order to become an ABO & NCLE approved Speaker, or to renew your expired Speaker Status, you must sign in to your account to complete the speaker approval form, along with a non-refundable Application Fee of $100.00. Please note, the Speaker Approval process takes 2 to 4 weeks from submission. All ABO and NCLE Speaker Statuses are active for a three year period.  

Speaker Criteria

Speakers must be qualified by education or experience to provide quality instructions in the relevant subject area and must be approved by ABO-NCLE for each course they are presenting. Failure to follow this criteria will result in denial of CEC Approval to course sponsors. 

Ophthalmic course speakers must be a current ABO and/or NCLE Certificant, or have appropriate credentials in Optometry, Medicine, Nursing, or the field of Ophthalmic/Optometric Certified Allied Health Personnel. Advanced level Speakers must be a current ABO and/or NCLE Advanced Certificant, or have proof of applicable Advanced Degree(s). 

Anyone who does not meet these requirements may request a special review, to include other relevant credentials or reasoning for an exception to the above mentioned qualifications.  

Please note that ABO/NCLE-approved courses must be taught by an ABO/NCLE-Approved speaker only. We encourage proper planning to ensure that the speaker listed on the course application will be available to teach the course on the scheduled date. If the speaker is unable to teach the course, please ensure the substitute instructor is ABO/NCLE-Approved. Your CEC Request will be denied for courses taught by an unapproved speaker.

Getting a Course Approved

ABO & NCLE define Continuing Education as educational courses that maintain and enhance the technical and business capabilities of Opticians and Contact Lens Practitioners in order to deliver quality services to patients, and consumers in a competent fashion.

Course Criteria

The criteria for continuing education is provided to better ensure quality and consistency in educational offerings for ophthalmic dispensers. There are many educational experiences which provide learning and advance the ophthalmic profession; however, only courses which are planned and administered in accordance with the ABO-NCLE Criteria will be accepted for recertification credit.    

Course submissions must include the following: A statement of learning objectives must be developed for each course, describing in general terms what should be learned by the participants. A detailed outline or course abstract listing specific learning outcomes must be submitted for each course. The intended audience and content level must be specified. Course content must be generic in nature and presented in an objective manner. The course length and method of presentation must be indicated on the course application.

Please review the Criteria for Continuing Education Handbook which contains useful information on course application requirements. When you are ready to submit a course for approval, please sign in to your account or have your company administrator sign in for your organization. Please note, the Course Approval process takes 4 to 6 weeks from submission.

Fees for Course Applications

The Education Committee will give speakers and/or sponsors the option to have their courses approved for a 1, 2 or 3 year terms.

ABO-NCLE Ophthalmic Courses:

1 year term - $100

2 year term - $175

3 year term - $250

ABO-NCLE Non-Ophthalmic Courses:

1 year term - $200

2 year term - $350

3 year term - $500

Ordering CECs for an Approved Program

CECs (Continuing Education Credits) for Approved Programs are available and can be requested by completing the Continuing Education Credit Request Form available under the speaker tab or under your organizations tab.

A non-refundable processing fee of $10.00 will be assessed for each course being requested in addition to the CEC fees. CEC requests for previously APPROVED courses must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the scheduled meeting. Please note that if a CEC order is received less than 2 weeks prior to a scheduled meeting, additional processing fees will apply.  Applications received less than 1 week prior to a scheduled meeting will incur additional rush shipping and processing fees.  All orders will be shipped via FedEx unless otherwise requested. If a CEC request is received for an unapproved course, the order will be delayed and will not be processed until the course is approved. This delay may result in additional fees, as outlined above.  All payments are non-refundable. 

Fee Schedule (Paper CECs)

CEC processing: $10 processing fee per course

plus

CEC fee: $0.50 per CEC

If CEC request is received less than 14 days from the meeting, a $50 rush processing fee will be added.

If CEC request is received less than 7 days from the meeting, a $100 rush processing fee will be added.

Please ensure that you order sufficient CECs. Additional fees and penalties apply for late ordered CECs. If you run out of paper CECs, retain the names of attendees who did not receive one, and notify ABO-NCLE as soon as possible. PLEASE DO NOT COPY CECs.

You MUST scan a clearly printed sign-in roster of all attendees for each course and send to ABO-NCLE following the course via email to [email protected] and maintain the original on file for a minimum of three (3) years.

Please note that ABO/NCLE-approved courses must be taught by an ABO/NCLE-Approved speaker only. We encourage proper planning to ensure that the speaker listed on the course application will be available to teach the course on the scheduled date. If the speaker is unable to teach the course, please ensure the substitute instructor is ABO/NCLE-Approved. Your CEC Request will be denied for courses taught by an unapproved speaker.

Shipping Fees for Paper CECs 

FedEx Ground - $30 additional

FedEx Two-Day Delivery - $40 additional

FedEx Next-day Delivery (arrives next late afternoon) - $45 additional