The American Regulatory Board of Optometry's held its 98th annual meeting in Washington, D.C. on June 18-20. Dr. Thomas Nadeau of Boothbay Harbor participated as the representative for the Maine Board of Optometry.

The American Regulatory Board of Optometry (ARBO) mission is to represent and assist member licensing agencies in regulating the practice of optometry for the public welfare. ARBO consist of 66 member organizations of the 50 state boards plus the provincial boards of Canada plus Australia, New Zealand, Guam and the District of Columbia. ARBO plus each state Board primary purpose is public protection by regulating the practice of Optometry through the issues of licenses to practice of optometry, regulation of license renewal, continuing education and handling of consumer concerns and complaints. The three day meeting dealt with primarily with accreditation and auditing of continued education course.

Nadeau has served on the Maine Board of Optometry for about four years and currently serve the board as its continuing education chair. Nadeau stated that it was the first time he had the privilege of attending the meeting and learning about how to better provide Maine’s doctors of optometry with quality continuing education that will increase their competency and quality of care for the people of the state of Maine. Dr Nadeau found that while the State Board was doing a good job at accrediting continuing education courses, they did not have an audit program in place to insure that the course met the goals set out in the accreditation process.

A great deal of the discussion evolved around the newer and changing methods of obtaining knowledge. From journals, online education, webinars, standard classrooms, workshops etc. The regulatory boards are attempting to meet the challenges represented by the new venues.