Explanation of the Point System

DECEMBER VIVA DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING ALL WRITTEN MATERIALS (INCLUDING REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION) IS
AUGUST 1.

The admittance process to become a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry requires successful completion of written requirements and an oral examination. A point system has been put into place to allow the clinical candidate more options to meet the written requirements, and these are explained in some detail below. It is the candidate's responsibility to provide their Region Chair any documentation requested before consideration for awarding points can be made, and it is the Region Chair's responsibility to assess whether or not the materials presented satisfy the intent of the category. Once the candidate has achieved 50 points, he or she will be invited to sit for an oral examination at the next annual meeting of the Academy.

This point system is for clinical candidates only, and excludes those candidates requesting processing as a scientist, special categories, or active duty military. Any clinical candidate that does not qualify for points under this new system will still be required to submit five acceptable case reports of patients they have managed in their practice after graduation from optometry school.

CASE REPORTS (10 points each - no limit)

A case report is unacceptable if written while the candidate was a student.
Depending on the case chosen to report on, adequate follow-up must also be included as part of the report.
Case reports must follow the 'Guide for the Preparation of Case Reports', and the 'Case Report Outline.'

PUBLICATIONS (10 points each - no limit)

) The article may be acceptable if it was published in one of the following journals:
- JAOA
- Clinical and Experimental Optometry
- Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics
- ICLC
- Clinical Eye and Vision
- Optometry Clinics
- Review of Optometry
- Contact Lens Spectrum
- Journal of the BCLA
- Canadian Journal of Optometry
- Southern Journal of Optometry
- Optometry and Vision Science
- Archives of Ophthalmology
- American Journal of Ophthalmology
- Review of Ophthalmology
) If the candidate is not the sole author or first author of a multi-authored publication, candidate must have documentation provided to the Region Chair by first author which describes each of the other author's contributions to the research, project, science, writing of the article, etc.
) Once items 1 and 2 are satisfied, it then becomes the Region Chair's or the committee's decision as to whether or not the article is acceptable, just as it would do for a case report.
) Four copies of the article must be provided to the Region Chair.

POSTERS (10 points each - no limit)

) A poster is unacceptable if presented while the candidate was a student, but may be acceptable if done while a resident.
) A poster may be accepted if it was presented at a scientific meeting which would include the Academy and ARVO, or any other meeting which has a refereed poster session.
) If the candidate is not the sole or first author of the poster, the same requirements for documentation of the candidate's contribution to the poster must be provided to the Region Chair as is expected for publications.
) Once items 1, 2, and 3 are satisfied, it then becomes the Region Chair's or the committee's decision as to whether or not the poster is acceptable, just as it would do for a case report.
) Four photocopies of the poster or an abstract which clearly describes the poster presentation must be provided to the Region Chair.

ELLERBROCK LECTURE (Maximum 10 points)

) A unique lecture given during Ellerbrock Continuing Education at an Annual meeting of the Academy may be accepted if:
- a.) Candidate was sole presenter of a one hour lecture
- b.) Candidate presented for at least one hour of a two hour lecture.

LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTION (Maximum 10 points)

Strongest consideration will be given for leadership at a state or national level. Those candidates who feel they qualify for credit in this category may apply by:

) Candidate must complete an essay in which he/she demonstrates to the satisfaction of the committee that a significant contribution to the profession or vision science resulted from the individual's leadership position.
) Essay to be completed by the candidate:
- a.) Describe significant contribution(s) made to the profession of optometry and/or vision science resulting from your leadership in volunteer organization(s) over your career.
- b.) Identify the organization(s) you served in, dates of service, and leadership position(s) held.

Example: During my term as president of our state optometric association, I coordinated the efforts of our association's legislative committees and key persons resulting in the enactment of our state's therapeutics bill.

RESIDENCY OR POST-DOC DEGREE ( Maximum 20 points)

) Candidate must document completion of an accredited Council of Optometric Education residency program, or post-doc degree.
) Description of residency or post-doc program describing the scope and length of the program
with dates and location must accompany documentation of successful completion of the program.
) In addition, descriptions of any studies done while a resident along with copies of any
research reports, case reports, thesis, etc. should accompany the above documentation.
) Post-doc degrees require similar documentation as described for residencies and must be in a vision science related curriculum.