In This Issue:

• Sponsor Recognition
• Ask the Expert
• Certification Renewal
• CPC in the News
• Examination Schedule
• Optometry’s Meeting™
• Congrats!

Sponsor Recognition

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Ask the Expert

Ask the expert is an article that is included in every issue of the CPC Newsletter. The CPC welcomes your questions and urges you to submit your questions to CPC@aoa.org.

Notice: Responses printed in the “Ask the Expert” column are the opinion of one individual and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Commission on Paraoptometric Certification.

Additionally, the Commission on Paraoptometric Certification does not endorse any particular continuing education provider.

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Certification Renewal

For those who are due to renew their certification this July, please note that statements will be mailed in June.  You should have received a reminder letter in January of this year informing you of the criteria.  If you did not receive this letter, please contact the CPC office to verify your mailing address.

For certification requirements and acceptable education, refer to the AOA website http://www.aoa.org.  Select the Students and Education Tab followed by Paraoptometric Certification.

The CPC will be conducting a contest for all those due to renew their designation in 2006.  The CPC certified individual who submits the greatest number of continuing education hours for renewing certification in 2006, will be awarded a PDA.  Here are the rules:

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CPC in the News

Military Happenings

A recent development in the United States Air Force has propelled ophthalmic technicians in the lead within the ophthalmic profession, mandatory certification for those reaching the mid-skill level.  The Air Force Surgeon General recently approved this action as a requirement to align Air Force ophthalmic members with the same requirements as their civilian counterparts. Since the Air Force recently decided to transfer about one third of its active-duty force into civilians, the alignment was seen as necessary in reducing the cost of providing healthcare. 

This strategic move is particularly interesting to those in the military; their promotion eligibility is contingent upon meeting certification guidelines.  This new requirement is the first of its kind within the field of optometry.  Though other paraprofessionals within the medical community have participated in the practice of professional validation or credentialing, the Air Force realizes the importance of this validation and is leading the way in bringing our profession in line with other professions. 

With the new emphasis on certification, there will be questions from military members around the world on how this process works.  Due to the availability of education offices at military bases around the world, the Commission on Paraoptometric Certification has developed a method to meet certification needs at military bases around the world where military members can test at local education offices in the United States and overseas. 

The AOA Paraoptometric Section has developed on-line continuing education and continues to expand their on-line capability to meet the needs of military members overseas.  The organization also has streamlined the process that makes approving local continuing education more practical for members needing continuing education. 

The Air Force's highly advance clinics, its sophisticated technology, and highly specialized mission needs is leading the way and raising the bar for ophthalmic professionals everywhere.  This unprecedented move by the Air Force demonstrates how our military leads the way around the world, and how they are out front, light years ahead of the rest. 

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Examination Schedule

Upcoming Examination Schedule

Click here!

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Optometry’s Meeting™

Optometry’s Meeting™, which convenes annually in June, has FOUR main components; House of Delegates, Continuing Education, Exhibition Hall and the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) Conference making it Optometry’s Meeting™. Optometry’s Meeting™ features more than 200 hours of continuing education credit (CE) by an internationally recognized faculty and a huge exhibition hall with representatives from more than 200 national and international companies. The 2006 Optometry’s Meeting™ will take place at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV, on June 21-25. This year’s meeting offers 69 hours of continuing education hours geared for paraoptometrics. The AOA Paraoptometric Section is offering a Practical Examination Review Course as well as Written Examination Review Courses for each appropriate certification level. Register on-line at www.optometrysmeeting.org!

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