History of the OKAP exam

By Rob Melendez, MD
Editor-in-Chief, Pearls in Ophthalmology

The Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program (OKAP) examination is structured specifically for residents-in training and is often times incorrectly referred to as the “OKAPs.” I will provide a brief historical perspective of the OKAP examination. The exam was initiated in the 1960s at the University of Florida designed as an evaluative examination for their residents. The first national OKAP examination was in May 1968, where over 85% of all eye training programs participated. The program was added to the Continuing Education program of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology (AAOO). The AAOO separated and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) formed a new organization in 1979 and operated the OKAP. Starting in January 1980, the OKAP was combined with the American Board of Ophthalmology exam, and established a unified national exam. Later the OKAP exam became separate from the American Board of Ophthalmology’s written qualifying examination also known as the WQE, and is often times referred to as “Written Boards.” Presently, the OKAP exam is administered by the Clinical Education portion of the AAO.

References:

1. T.J. Liesang. New Directions for the Ophthalmic Knowledge Assesment Program (OKAP) examination. Ophthalmology. 1994 Jan;101(1):194-98.

2. M.L. Rubin. The Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program (OKAP): a personal view. Survey of Ophthalmology. 1988 Jan-Feb;32(4):282-7.

Editor's Note: Review recent article titled "The Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program (OKAP) Examination and Global Evaluation of Resident Performance" in the Journal of Academic Ophthalmology.