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Thread: Can't manage CE

  1. #1
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    Can't manage CE

    This is a big problem, i can't manage required continuing education credits to meet recertification deadlines.

    How you guys & gals do it? with your busy life.

    My life keeps me so occupied with work & family;I recently failed to recertify myself.

  2. #2
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    CE opportunities

    Try registering for the free subscription to 20/20 Magazine. They have CE articles every month. Occasionally they have free ones.
    http://www.2020mag.com/

    They also have a page with online courses. Some of them are free too.
    Look under continuing Education:
    http://www.2020mag.com/index.asp?pag...etype=SiteSpec

  3. #3
    Master OptiBoarder
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    In case you didn't know. You have a 1 year grace period on your ABO certification.

  4. #4
    Objection! OptiBoard Gold Supporter shanbaum's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Graduate
    This is a big problem, i can't manage required continuing education credits to meet recertification deadlines.

    How you guys & gals do it? with your busy life.

    My life keeps me so occupied with work & family;I recently failed to recertify myself.
    As Chris would say, why not do it at one of the Vision Expos?

  5. #5
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    Vision Expos

    Not everyone can afford to get to and attend an Expo. So, I'd suggest some of the online ways.

    I've attended Expos in Vegas and New York City. Very educational and a good time, but can be very expensive.

  6. #6
    Bad address email on file Karlen McLean's Avatar
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    Lots of options

    There's online CE, print CE, and what about locally-held CE? Does your state association hold CE? What about traveling CE's, like from some vendors and the National Academy of Opticianry? What about your labs? Research what's in your "neighborhood," there may be more options than you think to get lots of hours when you need them.

  7. #7
    Master OptiBoarder rbaker's Avatar
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    Check your priorities. Your career must certainly be worth a few lousy hours a year.

  8. #8
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    Certainly benefitted,thank you all for being guiding colleagues.

    I wish Optiboard was issuing CE credits for posting;)

  9. #9
    Optimentor Diane's Avatar
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    I agree with Dick. There are too many ways out there to get CE's not to keep up your certification. Karlen suggested a number of easy ways. Face to face is certainly the best way, but alternate ways certainly prevent you from losing your certification.

    Just my humble opinion.

    Diane
    Anything worth doing is worth doing well.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Diane
    I agree with Dick. There are too many ways out there to get CE's not to keep up your certification. Karlen suggested a number of easy ways. Face to face is certainly the best way, but alternate ways certainly prevent you from losing your certification.

    Just my humble opinion.

    Diane
    I agree with you and others,pretty lady.It is wise opinion to attend expos to gain maximum CE credits in short time while doing business.It's killing 2 birds with single stone.

  11. #11
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    Keeping Track of your CE credits

    When you order your CECs online from the Optical Training Institute, the system automatically keeps track of the courses you have taken and how many credits you have earned. And if you have any specific questions regarding your credits you are always welcome to contact them via email or telephone.

    www.opticaltraining.com

    info@opticaltraining.com

    949-551-5455


  12. #12
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    What is your problem? I have taken as many as 12 hours on Dec. 30 from CLSA and ABO on line and been re-certificed Jan.1. Every optical trade magazine has at least one hour, you read the article which gives your the answers, fax or mail it in with a few bucks and your done. If this is too difficult, perhaps you should put in for a welfare check. Or perhaps some Civil Service job with Fema, or Homeland Security or similar agency.


    Chip

  13. #13
    Master OptiBoarder Darryl Meister's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chip
    If this is too difficult, perhaps you should put in for a welfare check
    Chip, if you wrote that response from a bell tower as you were preparing to fire a high-powered rifle into the crowd below, let me know and I'll dial 911. ;)
    Darryl J. Meister, ABOM

  14. #14
    Master OptiBoarder Cindy Hamlin's Avatar
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    Check out this thread. It contains on-line CEs and most are free.

    http://www.optiboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6469
    ~Cindy

    "If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning." -Catherine Aird-

  15. #15
    35yroldguy
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    I, for one think for some individuals it is necessary to be over and over, re- educated from time to time.

    It is unnecessary to have to retake the same said courses over and over again to regain certification. It should be a one time certification. I graduated from the university with a degree in geometric optics. I passed!! Why should I be required to do it all over again to keep the professors employed?


    When I was in the US Army I was a training NCO. We repeated the same courses over and over again and again. The motto of MANY ORGANIZATIONS is to keep the money rolling in to support their staffs and to keep a JOB.

  16. #16
    OptiBoard Professional William Walker's Avatar
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    My biggest struggle is to remember when each license is due, the fee, and how many CE's are needed and what type for each. Although it's not a ton, I'm balancing Florida State license (has it's own number of ABO/NCLE hours), ABOA (soon to be ABOM hopefully:)), NCLE, and CPO (soon to be CPOA). Add to it the renewing of memberships to POF, OAA, & NAO, and I'm tapped out, mentally and financially.
    William Walker

    Associates in Science in Opticianry
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    Next Goal: ABOM

    Optician with Lenscrafters in Jacksonville, FL

  17. #17
    Master OptiBoarder
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    Quote Originally Posted by William Walker
    My biggest struggle is to remember when each license is due, the fee, and how many CE's are needed and what type for each. Although it's not a ton, I'm balancing Florida State license (has it's own number of ABO/NCLE hours), ABOA (soon to be ABOM hopefully:)), NCLE, and CPO (soon to be CPOA). Add to it the renewing of memberships to POF, OAA, & NAO, and I'm tapped out, mentally and financially.
    Come on William, you haven't used all of the alpahabet yet! Hang in there! :hammer:

  18. #18
    That Boy Ain't Right Blake's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 35oldguy
    I, for one think for some individuals it is necessary to be over and over, re- educated from time to time.

    It is unnecessary to have to retake the same said courses over and over again to regain certification. It should be a one time certification. I graduated from the university with a degree in geometric optics. I passed!! Why should I be required to do it all over again to keep the professors employed?


    When I was in the US Army I was a training NCO. We repeated the same courses over and over again and again. The motto of MANY ORGANIZATIONS is to keep the money rolling in to support their staffs and to keep a JOB.
    If you're just relearning the basics over & over, you are cheating both yourself and your patients. How would you feel if your OD/MD never took any CE and therefore still believed Franklin bifocals in glass were the state of the art?
    Light travels faster than sound, which is why some people appear brighter before you hear them speak.

  19. #19
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    Opticly, Ben Franklin bifocals are state of the art.

  20. #20
    OptiBoard Professional William Walker's Avatar
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    How many of us still remember all the symbols on the periodic table of the elements? I had to know them at one time, but don't anymore. Or half the crap in Calculus II. Or anything by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Or, for that matter who the heck Tybalt was from Romeo and Juliet.

    Point is, you have to go back to keep things fresh in your mind - maybe not the basics, but the things you don't run into in your day to day atmosphere. I'm all for CEs - as long as I feel I actually learned something.

    And as for the alphabet, I'm trying to make alphabet soup of it all. Next I need to find out if you can add letters after your name for getting a degree in Opticianry!

    Later,
    William Walker

    Associates in Science in Opticianry
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    Next Goal: ABOM

    Optician with Lenscrafters in Jacksonville, FL

  21. #21
    Master OptiBoarder Darryl Meister's Avatar
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    Next I need to find out if you can add letters after your name for getting a degree in Opticianry!
    AAS
    Darryl J. Meister, ABOM

  22. #22
    OptiBoard Professional William Walker's Avatar
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    Really? Awesome.


    (and when I read that quickly, I thoght you were calling me a bad name!)
    William Walker

    Associates in Science in Opticianry
    Associates in Science in Optical Business Management
    Licensed Dispensing Optician
    Board Certified
    Certified Paraoptometric Assistant
    American Board of Opticianry Advanced Certified
    National Contact Lens Examiners Certified

    Next Goal: ABOM

    Optician with Lenscrafters in Jacksonville, FL

  23. #23
    Master OptiBoarder Darryl Meister's Avatar
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    Yes, most opticianry programs confer an Associate of Applied Science degree. However, if you've been attending a program and that hasn't already been made clear, you should probably verify that they are, in fact, accredited.

    As for the "alphabet soup" thing, generally the credentials you want to display will depend upon the context. For instance, in a licensed state, you would want to indicate your "LDO" on business stationery for the benefit of patients and customers. However, an "ABO" certification credential would be redundant in that situation. Also, if you were writing an article, the fact that you're licensed isn't really meaningful, and you would probably want to indicate any formal education credentials you have that pertain to your subject, such as your "AAS."

    When it comes to related certifications, which in a licensed state would be mainly for the benefit of your peers, you would want to indicate your highest level. Finally, you would generally not need to indicate your casual membership in an organization. For instance, "FNAO" just refers to the fact that you pay yearly dues to a particular trade organization, which probably wouldn't be important to many people. On the other hand, if you were a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO) or Fellow of the British Dispensing Opticians (FBDO), these credentials signify additional education.
    Darryl J. Meister, ABOM

  24. #24
    OptiBoardaholic
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    Alphabet Soup

    Generally one adds letters pertaining to degrees earned professional affiliations and certifications eld...no more than one of each
    One Professional org FNAO or FOAA
    One Degree AAS BA BS MA MS or PhD highest level earned
    One Certification ABOC NCLC ABO/AC or ABOM highest level of certification

    NOT THE ENTIRE BLOODY BOWL OF ALPHABET SOUP

    Ed

  25. #25
    Master OptiBoarder Darryl Meister's Avatar
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    One Professional org FNAO or FOAA
    I wouldn't even include simple "affiliation" with an organization (as is the case with the OAA and NAO). After all, it is nothing more than an indication that you sent your $70 dues in.
    Darryl J. Meister, ABOM

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