Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I get an application? Applications are online at www.aoa.org and must be completed and submitted online and e-mailed if paying by credit or debit card. If paying by check, the application will need to be completed online, printed, and mailed with payment to the CPC office. Follow the directions on the application. No handwritten applications will be accepted.

Can I pay for my examination online? Candidates may pay by credit or debit card at the time of application submission only. Candidates who are unable to pay by credit or debit card at that time must include a check or money order with their paper application when it is mailed to the CPC.

Where can I get a Candidate Handbook? Handbooks are available to view or print at www.aoa.org under the 'For Paraoptometrics - Certification' portion of website or under 'Manuals & Downloads'. If you are unable to view or print the handbook, contact the CPC at 800-365-2219 ext. 4210.

I'm military. Can testing be arranged at the base education office? Candidates who are stationed overseas may request pencil and paper testing to be proctored on base through their base education office. Personnel stationed within the continental United States must test at a PSI/LaserGrade center on the advertised testing dates. For more information on testing overseas contact 800-365-2219 ext. 4210.

Do I have to pay the special test center fee to test on base (overseas candidates only)? No special testing center fees will be charged to active duty military testing at overseas locations.

Is the examination offered online? All the paraoptometric examinations are proctored examinations that are available online at specified PSI/LaserGrade centers. In addition, one paper and pencil examination is offered in conjunction with Optometry's Meeting^® in June each year.

Who is eligible to pay student fees? Candidates will be considered paraoptometric students only if they are enrolled full-time in a formal paraoptometric education program approved by the CPC or ACOE (Accreditation Council on Optometric Education). Documentation will be required.

What is the difference between the Candidate Handbook and the Study Guide? The Handbook contains general information regarding requirements and procedures for applying and taking a paraoptometric examination as well as a study outline. Study guides are the actual publications you would use to prepare for the examination. Some study materials are available for purchase from the AOA Paraoptometric Section, ext. 4108. Contact ps@aoa.org for more information.

How and when do I get a Study Guide? No study materials will be automatically mailed to candidates applying for any level examination. A list of recommended study materials can be found in each level of the candidate handbook. Candidates may order some study materials from AOA's Paraoptometric Section. For more information, contact the Paraoptometric Section at 800-365-2219 ext. 4108 or ps@aoa.org. There is no specific study guide for the CPOT. A list of recommended reading for the CPOA and CPOT examinations is located in the back of the Candidate Handbook, available on the website, www.aoa.org.

Can I order a study guide for the examination without registering for an examination? If you wish to purchase a study guide without registering for the examination, you may do so by downloading the order form from the website, www.aoa.org. If you are unable to obtain a copy of the order form, contact the Paraoptometric Section at 800-365-2219 ext. 4108.

I received my confirmation of application card, but haven't received my study guide. When will I get my study guide? Study materials are not included with the examination fee and must be ordered.

How much study time should I allow for preparing for the examination? At least 3 months of study time should be allowed for each examination. Keep in mind that the examinations get progressively more difficult and length of study time may need to be adjusted accordingly.

Why should I do the self assessment exam? Is the self assessment exam a pre-test? The self assessment examination is more of a diagnostic tool that will demonstrate a candidate's areas of strengths and weaknesses as well as another method of studying. It is not a pre-test for the examinations. Candidates who pass the self assessment examination will be awarded a certificate of completion and 12 hours of continuing education to apply toward their certification renewal.

Are there any other study materials available? A list of recommended reading materials as well as an outline with a brief explanation of the areas to be tested for each examination is listed in the appropriate level Candidate Handbook.

Is there a way to skip the CPO examination? Candidates with five or more years experience in the eye care field may be eligible to skip the CPO examination. The employer must attest to this experience by completing the CPOA Reference Form and submitting it to the CPC Administrator for review along with the candidate's resume`. Current, advanced certifications from the American Board of Opticianry (ABO), National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) or Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) may also be submitted for review. Documentation will be required.

Is there any way I can skip the CPO and CPOA examinations and go straight to the CPOT examination? Candidates who are currently enrolled full-time in their last semester of, or have recently graduated from, an ACOE (Accreditation Council on Optometric Education) approved paraoptometric technician program are eligible to sit for either the CPOA or CPOT examination without having taken the CPO examination. Military members who have attended comparable, approved military programs are also eligible to bypass the CPO and CPOA examination. Documentation is required.

Why are there 2 parts to the CPOT? The written portion of the examination confirms the candidate's professional knowledge while the practical portion demonstrates the candidate's ability to perform the procedures required of a Certified Paraoptometric Technician on patients in an office type situation.

Does everyone have to pass the practical examination before becoming a CPOT? The practical examination is waived for graduates of ACOE (Accreditation Council on Optometric Education) approved paraoptometric technician programs and those who have graduated from military paraoptometric technician programs.

Are the fees the same for both the written and practical portion? The fee for all written and practical examinations is $225.00 and is non-refundable.

Is there a study guide for the CPOT? There is no specific study guide for the CPOT examination. A list of recommended reading is located in the Candidate Handbook. A good source of information is the study guide used for the CPOA exam.

Can I request a special test center for the practical examination? No. Practical examinations are held only at sites designated by the CPC.

How long do I have to wait between the CPO and the CPOA examinations and between the CPOA and CPOT? Six months experience is required between each successive level of certification.

Can I take the CPOT written and practical examinations at the same time? .A candidate may sit for the CPOT written and practical at the same time, but is not required to do so. Candidates for CPOT must complete and pass both portions of the examination within a 3 year period in order to be considered a CPOT.

Can I get a refund or postpone my examination? The CPC has set forth a policy that no refunds or postponements shall be granted except in extreme hardship circumstances which will be considered on a case by case basis. If a postponement is authorized an additional fee of $125.00 will be assessed which must be paid before testing. Persons who withdraw their application or fail to appear for their scheduled examination forfeit their application fees and if applicable, their special test center fees.

What do I need to bring with me to the examination? Each candidate will need to bring his or her admission card (paper/pencil candidates) or eligibility notice (computer candidates) and one form of picture ID. Calculators are permitted, but not required. No other materials will be allowed. The proctor will designate an area of safekeeping for any personal items which are brought into the examination. Those items may be picked up after your examination is completed and turned in and you are ready to exit the examination area.

When will I get my results? Can they be emailed to me or can I get them over the phone? A preliminary pass/fail result will be available immediately following a computer-based examination. Final results and a score report will be mailed to the candidate. Paper and pencil results will be processed by the testing agency and sent to the candidate in the mail within 6 weeks of the examination date. Due to confidentiality policies, results are mailed only to the candidate. No results will be faxed, given over the phone, emailed, nor published on the website.

My examination results indicate I failed, but I'm certain I didn't. Is there anything I can do? Candidates with reason to believe a discrepancy exists in the scoring or reporting of their test results may appeal in writing to the Commission on Paraoptometric Certification (CPC). The letter must be accompanied by supporting documentation, as applicable. The appeal must be received within 30 days after examination results are received by the candidates. The CPC will review the appeal and notify the candidate in writing of its decision.

If I failed the examination when can I retake it? There is no designated waiting period. Unsuccessful candidates may retake the examination upon filing a new application, exam fee and if applicable, special test center fee, by the deadline for the next scheduled examination period.

If I failed the examination, is a free or reduced price available? There is no free or reduced fee for repeating any of the examinations.

Is membership the same as certification? No. Membership in the Paraoptometric Section and paraoptometric certification are completely different and are handled by two different departments at the AOA. Membership is handled by the Paraoptometric Section and requires yearly membership dues. Certification refers to the level of professional certification one has attained through formal testing and continuing education in the paraoptometric field. Certification requires renewal every three years and is dependent upon the satisfaction of required continuing education as well as submission of renewal fees to the Commission on Paraoptometric Certification (CPC).

When is my certification renewal due? Certifications are renewable every three calendar years and are due by July 1 of the renewal year. Certified paraoptometrics will be reminded in January of their renewal year that their renewal is coming due shortly. Invoices are mailed out in June.

How often do I have to renew my certification? Certifications are renewable every 3 years. Candidates are reminded in January of their renewal year that continuing education credits and renewal fees will be due July1.

Where can I get continuing education? Continuing education is available from a variety of sources. State and national optometric conferences offer many opportunities to obtain continuing education. Online CE is available from a variety of sources such as SECO International (www.secointernational.com) and the Paraoptometric Section at the AOA offers free online CE to its members. Twelve (12) hours of continuing education is also available through the Paraoptometric Section by completing the self-assessment examination in preparation for the Certified Paraoptometric Assistant examination. These are just a few examples. A list of sources and approved continuing education is available on the AOA website, www.aoa.org.

When can I start accumulating my continuing education hours and how many do I need? Continuing education may be accumulated beginning January 1 of the first year of certification and may continue through June 30 of the renewal year. For example, a candidate who passes the examination between January and December 2008 will be due for renewal on July 1, 2011. Continuing education may be accumulated from January 1, 2008 through June 30, 2011. Any unused credits may not be applied to the next renewal period. Currently, 18 hours of continuing education are required for certification renewal.

I have already passed the written (or practical) portion of the CPOT examination. A notice to renew my CPOA certification was received. Do I still need to renew as a CPOA if I've already passed one portion of the CPOT? To be considered a CPOT, a candidate must pass both the written and the practical examinations within the maximum span of a 3 year period. If only one portion of the exam has been taken and passed, the candidate would still be considered a CPOA and would need to follow the renewal guidelines and submit their renewal as a CPOA.

When is the renewal late fee required? The second renewal invoices are mailed on or about August 1. If your renewal has not been received or postmarked prior to August 1, a late fee is assessed. Those who request a renewal extension and renew after July 31 will be required to pay the late fee.