COE Member Testimonials

Working in a practice where one of the physicians is my dad, I have had to earn respect from some of my co-workers. Becoming COE certified has not only boosted my own confidence but has also helped me gain more respect from the employees that I lead and manage. Additionally, networking with other COE's has been valuable in benchmarking and improving our practice.

I feel that the COE designation has benefited my career is several ways. First, successfully completing the exam helped me personally validate my skill level and provided a boost in self-confidence with regard to my work knowledge. Second, the COE designation outwardly signifies to my peers, my physician employer, and to the ophthalmology community that I am qualified, ophthalmology professional. Third, the COE certification, coupled with my Masters in Business degree, have helped me enhance my career by opening doors for career advancement. I would encourage others to strive to learn and grow so that you too can earn your COE designation.

Becoming a Certified Ophthalmic Executive (COE) confirms to the doctors and staff that I am committed to achieving excellence in ophthalmology management.  Pursuing certification showed motivation, dedication and professionalism, which was recognized and appreciated. Personally, the extra effort to obtain a new credential was intellectually stimulating, a strong refresher and definitely worth the time spent to achieve it.

Obtaining the COE (certified ophthalmic executive) certification was not a contingency of my employment. I originally signed up for the exam as more a validation of my current level of knowledge and experience in the field of ophthalmology practice management. Passing the COE certification exam helped to confirm that my level of knowledge and experience was comparable to my most respected peers, while also adding a new level of personal confidence in my administrative ability. 

Passing the COE (certified ophthalmic executive) exam did many things for me. First, it forced me to study the areas of ophthalmic management that I was weakest in (or did not pertain to my current practice, such as COBRA). Second, it boosted my confidence about how much I really had learned along the way. Third, the COE designation behind my name proved to be a huge resume builder, as it showed potential employers that I was serious about my career.

Yes, the exam is hard (otherwise, why bother?), but I found it to be a very fair test, in that I never once felt like a question was vague or trying to trick me.

The COE (certified ophthalmic executive)  designation sets you apart and highlights you as a skilled professional among your colleagues in the field of ophthalmology. It’s a credential that is well worth the hard work that it takes to achieve. It is a professional milestone to strive for and, once you reach it, you feel that you have reached a new level in your field.

I feel that after having earned my COE  (certified ophthalmic executive) has allowed me to more confidently perform my job.  Studying for the exam not only indicated areas in which I needed to become more knowledgeable, but also helped me to understand the importance of keeping up to date with all the governmental rules and regulations--from HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) to OSHA (Occupied Safety and Health Administration) to risk management.

In addition, I observed--firsthand--the pride our technicians took in becoming certified in their field and I also saw the value Dr. Donelson placed on their certifications.  I felt that, as their office manager, I should put forth the same effort in attempting the COE certification as our technicians did in accomplishing their COA (certified ophthalmic assistance) and COT (certified ophthalmic technician) certifications.  After I took and passed the exam, our clinical coordinator, who earned her COT the previous year, decided to study for the COE and passed!  I, then, encouraged our front office staff to study for the CPSS (certified patient service specialists) certification.  They accepted the challenge and both passed the exam.
 
I am extremely proud and happy to say that our entire staff is now certified in each of our respective areas of work.  It is certainly a pleasure to work with each of them and I count myself as one very fortunate manager.

We are fortunate, as ASOA members, to have many opportunities for continuing education and learning--specific to our responsibilities as administrators, CEOs and management within ophthalmology. The COE (certified ophthalmic executive)  credential allows us to take advantage of learning opportunities and attain a level of knowledge and expertise that is recognized in our industry as those of a top level professional. It allows us to build on an existing foundation of skills and become more valuable to the organizations that we serve. I greatly appreciate the supportive role of the ASOA in helping us further our careers.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have always been a strong certification advocate. Before becoming an ASOA member, I spent many years in JCAHPO (Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology)-certification development and test administration. It was because of my JCAHPO experience that Lucy Santiago asked me serve on the ASOA Certification Advisory Committee. This committee was tasked with exploring an,  subsequently, developing an ophthalmic administrator certification mechanism. Most members on this committee became NBCOE (National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment) charter members. So, I was a COE (certified ophthalmic executive) credential supporter from day one. From a value perspective, the credential is whatever you want it to be. At the very least, my COE recognizes and rewards me for what I have accomplished.  I look at it as a professional requirement and a credential that gives me a leg up for other opportunities. But, as our employees tire of hearing me say: “It’s not the initials after your name that makes you a better person, it’s the process that you go through to get those initials."

The COE credential has been one of the most important and valuable things I've done in my 30+ year ophthalmic management career.  It signifies a level of knowledge, competence and the skill necessary to successfully manage a ophthalmic practice--no matter the size. Thanks to the ASOA, I proudly hold the title of Certified Ophthalmic Executive.