Browsing the many optical groups on Facebook, it is interesting to note the various threads that appear discussing whether one should maintain their ABO or NCLE certifications if there isn’t a compelling licensure standard to do so. First of all, many states, including Florida and New York, have state licensure with recurring CE-based registration requirements that the ABO will accept in lieu of providing direct evidence of having completed ABO credits. Many feel that retaining registration by paying renewal fees every few years provides no clear benefit: “I’m not moving from my (licensed) state, so why spend the money?” or “I let mine lapse years ago and never looked back.”

This was punctuated by a few dissenting voices, including Wesley Scott, ABOM, and mine. It got me thinking about how few states actually have optical licensure in place, and how many more are considering eliminating licensure for ophthalmic dispensing altogether. In my mind, this alone makes paying to keep all the credentials you’ve earned current a grade A priority.

Second of all, there is the dichotomy between opticians who have state licensure and didn’t attend a formal two-year opticianry program and those who did. As much as I value real world experience, it is clear from the many postings and questions online that opticians who have learned what they know “on the job” would benefit from a more complete understanding of optical and technical principles, and more importantly, how those principles are corrupted in some of the ways that eyewear can be constructed.

There have been countless times on both Optiboard and the Facebook groups when I better and more correctly understood areas such as base curve, progressive corridors and Martin’s Rule of Tilt, to name just a few. In fact, the primary motivation behind the ABO CEs and articles I write is more to share, in one place, all the knowledge on a subject in the form of a primer suitable for anyone of any level whose curiosity drives them simply to know more. That’s why, I must say, it is so rewarding to receive positive feedback about one of my CEs because the reader took home more than they signed up for.

Like watching a movie more than once, I’ll bet most of us could benefit from going back to optical school, first time or not, and taking it all in again in an academically structured environment. In the meantime, Pro to Pro offers a platform for the most motivated opticians around to share their insights, experience and wisdom. Perhaps we can, someday soon, include your CE as part of our shared wisdom.

•Barry Santini, ABOM