The Philippine Board
of Ophthalmology

For Public
For Accredited Training Institutions

The Philippine Board
of Ophthalmology

For Public
For Accredited Training Institutions
For Public
For Accredited Training Institutions

PBO
Certifying Exams

PHILIPPINE BOARD OF OPHTHALMOLOGY CERTIFYING EXAMINATIONS OVERVIEW

Written by Teresita R. Castillo, MD, MHPEd

THE WRITTEN QUALIFYING EXAMINATION

The Written Qualifying Examination (WQE) is the first step in the board certification process. The WQE is a computer-based examination administered in one day, at a single test center usually falling on the second Sunday of April of each year. The purpose of the WQE is to evaluate the breadth and depth of basic and clinical knowledge in ophthalmology of candidates who have completed an accredited residency training program. Candidates must pass this examination in order to qualify for the Oral Certifying Examination.

ORAL EXAMINATION

Candidates who pass the WQE registers for the oral written examination, usually administerd in June. The Oral Examination is designed to assess a candidate’s ability to recognize clinical findings, integrate clinical information and diagnostic examinations as a general ophthalmologist would encounter in clinical practice. They are assessed on their ability to integrate all cognitive knowledge with clinical judgement. The examination also assesses a candidate’s communication skills.

This examination focuses on patient care skills of the candidates. Candidates are assessed on their ability to acquire data, formulate a diagnosis and developing a management plan. The first section of the examination include topics that have been distributed across the different subspecialties in ophthalmology. Candidates are expected to demonstrate their ability to perform basic clinic-based procedures. Cases and patient management problems focus on those commonly encountered in a general ophthalmology practice.