The following principles have proven to be effective by Medicine in the administration of Specialties and Subspecialties. The principles are widely recognized by accrediting groups, insurance carriers, health care institutions and providers:
- Nomenclature
- The name of the Residency Program must be the same as the Clinical Specialty, e.g. Family Optometry, Pediatric Optometry, Low Vision Optometry, and Medical Optometry.
- The name of the Post-Residency Fellowship must be the same as the Clinical Subspecialty, e.g. Glaucoma, Retina, Cornea/External Disease, Neuro-Ophthamic, Sports Vision, Geriatric Vision, Adolescent Vision, etc.
- Each Specialty must have its own Certification Board.
- The Certification Board determines the requirements for Specialty and associated Subspecialty certifications.
- Only the Specialty Certification Board can grant Specialty and Subspecialty Certifications.
- Residency Trained clinicians must first be certified in the Specialty by the parent Specialty Board before qualifying for Subspecialty Certification.
- Only clinicians who are Board Certified in a Specialty may use the title, Specialist, and only those certified in a Subspecialty may use the designation of Subspecialist.
- Each Specialty Certifications Board submits to oversight by an independent third party*.
*In Medicine, Specialty Boards are overseen by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). In Optometry, Specialty Boards are overseen by the American Board of Optometry Specialties (ABOS).