The Mystery Box of Maintenance of Certification

Maintenance of Certification can sometimes feel like a requirement, hours to complete, paperwork to submit, and credentials to maintain... When Megan Ford invited me to Tulsa to provide in-house MOC training at South Tulsa Vision Development Center, the goal was clear: earn meaningful MOC hours while strengthening clinical skills, but what happened during that training went far beyond simply fulfilling a requirement. And it started with a box.

The Mystery Box

I asked the group a simple question, “How does this box make you feel?” Some said curious, others said excited, a few admitted they felt nervous, even apprehensive, and that response matters. When we are faced with something unknown, we naturally move into one of two modes: discovery or defense. In discovery mode, we lean forward, we explore, and we experiment. While in defensive mode, we protect what we already know and guard the status quo. The point is that the way we respond to a simple box often mirrors the way we respond to professional growth, including Maintenance of Certification.

In-House MOC

I’ve taught in many settings, but there is something powerful about in-house training. When a clinic chooses to bring education directly to its team, it signals intention. Megan, for example, didn’t just want MOC hours for herself or her staff; she wanted sharpening and refinement. She wanted her entire team aligned and growing together.

In-house MOC allows us to:

• Apply concepts immediately to real patients.

• Discuss specific clinical challenges openly.

• Refine the subtle details that often get missed in larger conference environments.

• Strengthen team culture while strengthening skills.

Maintenance of Certification does not have to be passive; it can be immersive and transformative.

Surfing the Edge of Discovery

During our time together, this group of therapists, many already highly experienced, demonstrated what a true growth mindset looks like: experience did not block curiosity, and certification did not prevent learning. We discussed why the “little things” in therapy matter, and looked at the therapy session as a complete system rather than a checklist of activities.

Most importantly, we explored how to find that fine edge of discovery, the place where challenge meets capability, and how to adjust the load factor so patients stay productively engaged right at that edge. We examined approaches to treating TBI and ABI patients and talked about where to begin when the path forward feels unclear. We shared frustrations and breakthroughs.

There were moments of laughter, emotion, and moments of quiet realization when something finally clicked. What began as an opportunity to earn MOC hours became something much deeper. In many ways, learning about therapy became therapy for us.

The Secret of the Box

When I opened the box, it was empty... that wasn’t a trick, it was actually the point, you can only get out of the box what you are willing to put into it. The same is true of Maintenance of Certification. If we approach it defensively, as something to get through, we gain very little, but if we approach it with curiosity — ready to stretch, refine, and rethink — we leave changed. As therapists, we set the tone in the therapy room and in our professional development.

Opening the Box Each Day

Yes, earning MOC hours is satisfying, but what excites me far more is when professional development rekindles appreciation for this remarkable field we are privileged to practice.

Coming to Tulsa wasn’t just about credits: it was about choosing discovery. So I would encourage you, whether you are earning MOC hours at a conference or bringing training into your own clinic, open the Mystery Box. Lean forward. Ask more questions. Refine the small things, because Maintenance of Certification should not simply maintain your credentials; it should sharpen your craft.

If you believe that Maintenance of Certification should sharpen your craft rather than just check a box, then we invite you to learn more about how to get James or Robert, our in-house COVTs, to provide custom training with your vision therapists.

→ Contact us: james@emergentvt.com

Besides that, our monthly online workshop, Mastering VT, is designed to do exactly what happened in Tulsa: transform professional development into genuine clinical growth.

Every live broadcast counts toward your COVT Maintenance of Certification requirements. Can't make it live? No problem. Recorded viewers can complete a brief test and receive their certificate as well.

→ Join the next Mastering VT workshop and choose discovery.