The Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO) plans to mail OE Cards to all optometrists nationwide beginning mid-October. The cards are part of the boards new Optometric Education Tracking Program (OE Tracker). The program is designed to capture continuing education attendance at educational meetings for transfer to the ARBO Web site (www.arbo.org). Once on the Web site, the information will be accessible to both the doctor and the state boards of optometry in order to verify attendance information needed for state continuing education requirements for license renewal. Each OE Card has a unique identification number, assigned by ARBO, along with a magnetic strip and bar code. Electronic reader units will be used to capture attendee information at educational courses, beginning at the SECO meeting in Atlanta (February 2005). After each educational event, the data will be verified by an administrator and then exported to the ARBO Web site for storage. Optometrists can then access the site, view the courses they have taken at various events and print CE certificates of hours completed. Essilor of America, Mikrotec Developers and its Eyesites.net subsidiary, and Alcon are underwriting the development and implementation of the Web site and OE Cards.

Look for this card in your mailbox.