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Paraoptometric Certification
Newsletter
from the AOA Commission
on Paraoptometric Certification
In This Issue
Message
from the Chair
It has been an exciting and busy year this 2004, and things are still heating up. We are in the process of completing one of the most successful years in Paraoptometric history. As 2004 grows to a close, our number of certified paraoptometrics is fast approaching the 6,500 mark. This is extremely motivating for us on the CPC, but I personally believe we can do even better with your help. I believe we can increase our numbers for 2005 by promoting not only our certification, but the doctors and the paraoptometrics that are assisting us. Here are a few ways the CPC is moving forward with the certification process:
- Developed subcommittees in
- Testing
- Education Approval
- Assistant/Technician Programs Project Team
- Marketing Outreach
- Schools of Optometry
- Industry
- State Affiliates
- Career Day planners
- Practical Test Development
- Streamlined the process and developed strategic future sites
- Recent test sites included Maine, Ohio, Oregon, Florida
- National Accreditation
- Accomplishments of the staff are included but not limited to:
- Web site updates
- CPC Faq sheet
- Sub-committee formation
- Processing 100% of all new applicants for certification
- Geographical data used in Strategic planning and forecasting
- Attendance at major Conferences to sell certification
- Budget management and planning
What can you do to help? Get the word out to all those in the field. Support your doctors, your patients and your staff in making our profession the best in the medical field. A quote taken from the Army, "Be all that you can be".
We are striving to improve the certification process and the volunteers working on the CPC have been devoted and motivated in advancing our cause. They will never quit or waver until the task is complete. Though this has been a year of personal tragedy and hardship for some of our members, they have persevered and produced one of the most productive years in Paraoptometric history.
We are looking forward to increasing the number of certified personnel in our organization, but more than that, we are interested in increasing the outlook on our profession. Please continue being the highly skilled, trained professionals that you are and we will all benefit.
Lynn Lawrence, CPOT
Chair, Commission on Paraoptometric Certification
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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.
Question: Do you think it is important to spend valuable time with company representatives?
Answer: Believe it or not, company representatives can be a valuable asset to the paraoptometric. Granted, it often seems like an imposition to take the time to talk with a rep, but you never know what it could mean to your practice. It would be to your advantage to request a specific appointment for a date and time of the visit, and most reps will be happy to honor such a request.
Think positive in terms of the company representative helping you to have the knowledge of the products and services that are available. By having this knowledge, you will be able to provide the care necessary to satisfy the patient's needs. Information about lens types, frame colors and sizes, various contact lens availability, special optical products and state of the art equipment and supplies can add to your ability to provide comprehensive care. The more able you are to satisfy the complete needs of your patient, the more satisfied your patient will be. Clearly, this would be a practice builder. So, welcome the sales representatives and learn as much as you can about what he/she has to offer.
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.
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What’s New?
There are several changes coming about with the CPC that will affect your certification and future testing as follows:
Renewal
After much consideration and research, the CPC has determined that effective for the 2005 renewal year, the required number of hours for maintaining your designation will increase from sixteen (16) to eighteen (18) hours of approved continuing education within a three-year period. Previous procedures concerning approved education will remain the same. This requirement is for all those who are due to renew in 2005.
You will be notified in January by way of a letter that is simply a reminder that your certification is due on July 1, 2005. Please do not submit any payment or proof of continuing education at that time. It might be a good time to take a look at what you have earned and if you are in need of additional credit. You will receive your official statement in June 2005. Please submit your fee and credit with this statement.
The other change regarding renewals is the required renewal fee. The renewal fee for all has increased/decreased to $75.00 for a three year period. As you may know, the AOA Paraoptometric Section member renewal fee was $45.00 and for those who are not members of the AOA Paraoptometric Section, the renewal fee was $100.00. The late fee of $15.00 will still be in order for those who do not renew by July 1, 2005.
Examination Fees
The examination fees for all CPC exams will change beginning with examinations administered after July 1, 2005. For example, if you plan to sit for the August 20, 2005 examination and you submit your application in June, 2005, the new fee will be in order. NOTE: The fees have not increased.
The revised examination fees do not distinguish between an AOA Paraoptometric Section member or non-member.
- CPO $195.00
- CPOA $195.00
- CPOT Written $195.00
- CPOT Practical $100.00
- Student $100.00 (see handbook for determining student status)
Communication
Please continue to keep the CPC updated with address changes and e-mail addresses. All newsletters and bulletins are distributed via e-mail and you wouldn't want to miss anything of importance. If you do not have access to the internet, please notify the CPC office at 800-365-2219 ext. 210 and we will mail all information to you.
Newsletters
In efforts to better serve you and keep you current, the CPC will be increasing the number of newsletters you receive. Rather than receiving quarterly issues, we will be e-mailing you six issues yearly starting in February 2005. We will also be listing continuing education opportunities for you and updated schedules of examination administrations.
Committees
The CPC has recently appointed three brand new committees. As you may or may not know, the CPC is in the process of seeking national accreditation for its certification program. The accrediting body, National Commission on Certifying Agencies (NCCA) is a constituent of another organization called National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA). By seeking and receiving national accreditation, our program will prove that it is consistently credible and will be looked upon as an integral part of this profession. The application process included the CPC program meeting twenty-one individual standards that validate the examinations, administration, and procedures. The NCCA guidelines also contain other criteria which includes the education approval process for certification.
For many years, the AOA Paraoptometric Section held this responsibility and did so quite well. But, because the national accreditation is of the utmost importance, the leaders in both the Paraoptometric Section and the Commission on Paraoptometric Certification believe this responsibility belongs with the CPC. According to the guidelines mentioned above, it is the certifying body that should approve the criteria for optometric assistant programs.
There are currently nine optometric assistant programs that have been approved by the AOA Paraoptometric Section, three of which are Accreditation Council of Optometric Education (ACOE) approved for their optometric technician programs. Current criteria states that the applying program may be considered an assistant program when it offers a nine-month course, a minimum of 1,018 hours, or approximately 35 credits. This criteria was established and approved in 1988. The CPC has determined that the criteria needs to be reviewed and that a reporting mechanism should be a process to maintain approval. By doing so, this will ensure that students are following a curriculum consistent with the level of examination they are granted as well as securing a future for the profession. Additionally, a reporting process will assist program directors with keeping curriculums up to date with examination content.
The committee is comprised of the following individuals:
- Marcey Brickner, CPOA (OH)
- Ann Hayden-Finger, CPOT (WI)
- Grace Martin, CPOT (ME)
- Kimberly Pantel, CPOT (CA)
- Brent Sonnier, CPOT (TX)
- Cheryl Bruce, CPOT is the CPC Consultant to this committee.
For the same reasons as stated above, an Education Approval Committee was appointed. This committee will be reviewing education primarily for certification renewal. New guidelines have been prepared that include provisions for reviewing education that fall into the following categories:
- Classroom Presentations (lectures, workshops, seminars, etc.)
- Distance Learning (electronic or print media)
- Employer In-Service Training (employers that provide in-service training for their employees exclusively)
The committee has also been tasked with reviewing current "blanket approved" education and is comprised of the following individuals:
- Tami Franklin, CPOT (NE)
- Stacey Gann, CPOA (OK)
- Mandy Haiber, CPOA (OH)
- Heather Rash, CPOA (FL)
- Mary Jameson, CPOT is the CPC Consultant to this committee
As you may know, each year the certification examinations are reviewed and modified. Questions are added to the item bank and each is reviewed for appropriateness and accuracy. Additionally, the examination results are reviewed. With the assistance of Professional Testing Corporation psychometricians, every question of each examination is looked at and evaluated. This committee is comprised of the following individuals:
- Carmen Cate, CPOT (DE)
- Christina Forrest, CPOT (MD)
- Billie Taylor, CPOT is the CPC Member chairing this committee
Volunteers Wanted
The CPC is always looking for volunteers to assist with future growth of both certification and your profession. If you are interested, please contact the CPC office at 800-365-2219 ext. 135.
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Affiliate Focus
The following AOA Affiliates/Regional Entities/State Paraoptometric Sections successfully held CPC examination administrations:
October
- East West Eye Conference/Ohio Optometric Association*
- Great Western Council of Optometry*
- Opto East
- Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians/Pioneers in Optometry Optometric Conference
- Wyoming Paraoptometric Section
November
- Armed Forces Optometric Association
- Delaware Optometric Association
- Kentucky Optometric Association
- Mississippi Optometric Association
- New Mexico Optometric Association
- North Carolina State Optometric Society
As a result of hosting certification examinations, the CPC has added to its roster 278 additional certified individuals! The CPC thanks each of the above for their continued support of paraoptometric certification and making examinations conveniently available for you!
*including practical examination
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Other News
Online Optometric Technician Program
If you are working in eye care you can earn a technical diploma as an Optometric Technician without leaving home or work. Madison Area Technical College (MATC), Madison, Wisconsin has been offering the online diploma since August 2000. Classes begin January 10, 2005 and August 2005.
The courses are for college credit and are structured into units of study. Most classes are interactive and have assignments that are due each week. The assignments are a mix of class discussions, web site review, reading class notes/textbook, written work, worksheets, group projects, papers and quizzes. Learning the practical aspects of the courses such as tonometry, visual field testing, slit lamp (and much more) is accomplished using detailed class notes, video delivered via CD-Roms and an in-office mentor that will assist and assess your practical skills.
Students of the program are eligible to sit for the Optometric Technician certification examination while in their last semester of study. For additional information about this program visit the MATC website at: http://matcmadison.edu/matc/offerings/programs/315162/ or contact Lynn Konkel, Program Director at 608 246-6557, lkonkel@matcmadison.edu.
AOA announces new information in InfantSEE™ development
The American Optometric Association, through its InfantSEE™ program, hopes to render the future of undiagnosed eye health and vision problems in young children to be short-lived. InfantSEE™, the AOA's public health oriented infants' vision program, supported by the House of Delegates at last year's 106th Annual AOA Congress, is setting out to perform one-time eye and vision assessments to infants twelve months and under at no-cost and to educate young parents about the importance of regular eye assessments as a part of their well-baby health care routine.
A great deal of progress has been made over the last twelve months, and the program is taking shape. Through InfantSEE™, participating optometrists will greatly impact the quality of lives and sight of many of the young patients they will see.
The infant eye assessment is an important new component of the infant wellness routine that America's parents schedule for their babies. InfantSEE™ will complement the routine wellness care that a baby receives at the pediatrician's office by broadening the review of an infant's vision and eye health status.
The first year of life is one of the most critical stages of human development. Because of this, the InfantSEE™ program recommends that children receive their first comprehensive eye and vision assessment before twelve months of age. This first assessment has the potential to make a significant impact on each child's future.
Three to four million babies are born every year in the U.S. A significant number of cases of treatable eye conditions such as amblyopia (7.9%), myopia (9.4%), strabismus (21.1%), astigmatism (22.5%), and hyperopia (33.0%) will develop. Many of these conditions may not be detected in time for proper management or treatment.
An InfantSEE™ eye assessment is not a substitute for the well infant care that he/she receives at the pediatrician's office; however, it is something optometrists feel should be a part of the infant wellness routine. Following the first assessment, a child's eyes should be checked at intervals recommended by the family's optometrist.
The AOA is proud to announce that a working partner has been secured. This working partner is generously allocating funding for the start-up of this program as well as their parent company's expertise in raising awareness to our target audience: expectant and new parents. Working with the AOA toward this important goal is Johnson & Johnson Vision Care. Both organizations are committed to raising awareness of the importance of vision care for even the youngest of patients. Johnson & Johnson Vision Care brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in marketing to young parents. The company's stellar reputation with this target audience will be a great asset as the InfantSEE™ program gains momentum and credibility.
Together, the AOA and Johnson & Johnson Vision Care will lay the groundwork for the eventual national launch of InfantSEE™. Initially, educating the American public will be an important component of the program's success. Because of the subtleties of undiagnosed eye problems, parents simply don't know to have their children's eye health assessed when they are young. Assumptions are made that if the eyes aren't crossed, they must be healthy. Parents also need to know that early detection of eye problems can allow for timely treatment and prevent impediments to classroom learning in the years to come. This awareness or "seeding" stage will take place through newspaper articles, and other media related activities, and is currently in progress.
In addition to public education, the AOA and Johnson & Johnson Vision Care are also recruiting member optometrists to enroll as participants in the program. In tandem with recruitment, participating optometrists are equipped with the proper tools for performing these services. InfantSEE™ State Leaders—state liaisons for the program—have recently been identified to assist in recruitment in their respective states. They will provide information outlining the details of the program. Johnson & Johnson Vision Care's Vision Care Institute was graciously made available for the first training sessions which took place in June.
The program is especially fortunate to receive the attention of Former President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter who have pledged their support to be National Honorary Chairs of the InfantSEE™ program. It was the President's remarks at the 105th Annual AOA Congress that provided the springboard for this very program. Knowing firsthand the importance of detecting eye problems through the experiences of two of his grandchildren, President Carter graciously donated his time in taping public service announcements which focus on this topic.
InfantSEE™ volunteers are critical to making InfantSEE™ a success. The AOA invites you to enroll as a participating optometrist in this program. Your participation will allow the profession of optometry to further establish itself as the primary eye care profession by ensuring that America's infants have been assessed for the proper eye health and vision necessary to reach their potential and to become healthy and visually-efficient adults in the future. This program is a win-win combination for all involved. Participation in the program is voluntary, and doctors can decide how many InfantSEE™ assessments will be best incorporated into their individual practices.
It is our hope that you will set the example for your colleagues by being among the first to enroll as participating optometrists in InfantSEE™. It has been suggested that by the 108th Annual AOA Congress in 2005 we might have 6,000 members enrolled—the number needed to officially launch this program. Enrolling in the program is easy.
Follow these simple instructions for signing up for InfantSEE™ by using the AOA Dr. Locator. Visit our website at www.aoa.org and click on the "InfantSEE" icon on the homepage.
All participating doctors will receive a toolkit with materials that will help practices incorporate infant eye assessments into their practices. The toolkits will include sample forms necessary for each assessment, "how-to" guide for program specifics, sample letter to parents, InfantSEE™ logos, and sample brochures.
Although there have been substantial efforts in recent decades to ensure access to professional eye care for children, too many children do not get proper eye and vision care at a time when critical development occurs. InfantSEE™ has the potential to give an entirely non-served part of the population a chance to enter the eye care continuum with the greatest chance of positively affecting the child's eye health and vision. Optometry is poised to be a profession that can truly say that is has embarked on a public health effort to make a difference in Americans' well-being, true to our Healthy Eyes Healthy People Initiative.
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Updated Schedule
|
| State |
City |
| Alabama |
Birmingham |
| Arizona |
Tempe/Phoenix |
| California |
Berkeley |
| Colorado |
Denver |
| Florida |
St. Petersburg/Ft. Lauderdale^ |
| Illinois |
Chicago |
| Indiana |
Bloomington |
| Kansas |
Wichita |
| Louisiana |
New Orleans* |
| Maryland |
Largo |
| Massachusetts |
Boston |
| Michigan |
Detroit |
| Minnesota |
St. Cloud |
| Missouri |
St. Louis/Kansas City |
| Nebraska |
Omaha |
| New York |
New York^ |
| North Carolina |
Raleigh* |
| Ohio |
Toledo |
| Pennsylvania |
Harrisburg |
| Tennessee |
Nashville |
| Texas |
Dallas* |
| Utah |
Salt Lake City |
| Washington |
Spokane |
| Wisconsin |
Madison |
* February only
^ Fort Lauderdale and New York 2005 only |
Other Locations |
| Where |
Date/Deadline |
Regional Sites
See chart above
|
Feb. 12 / Jan. 3 |
Atlanta, Georgia
SECO
www.secointernational.com |
Feb. 27 / Jan. 7 |
Seattle, Washington
WPA
dmharris62@hotmail.com |
Mar. 18 / Feb. 4 |
Des Moines, Iowa
IOAA
kmb2610@juno.com |
Apr. 1 / Feb. 18 |
Tuscon, Arizona
AZOA
info@azoa.org |
Apr. 2 / Feb. 19 |
Tomah, Wisconsin
WPA
608-846-5625 |
Apr. 10 / Feb. 28 |
Regional Sites
See chart above
|
Apr. 16 / Mar. 5 |
New Orleans, Louisiana
LSAO
www.optla.org |
Jun. 5 / Apr. 23 |
Dallas, Texas
AOA's Optometry's Meeting
www.optometrysmeeting.org |
Jun. 24 / May 13
Practical Exam:
Jun. 25 / May 1
|
Regional Sites
See chart above
|
Aug. 20 / Jul. 9 |
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Pioneers in Optometry Meeting
www.pioneersinoptometry.org |
Oct. 9 / Aug. 29
Practical Exam:
Oct. 8 / Aug. 15 |
Cleveland, Ohio
East West Eye Convention
www.eastwesteye.org |
Oct. 30 / Sep. 18 |
Asheville, North Carolina
NCSOS
www.nceyes.org |
Nov. 12 / Oct. 1
Practical Exam:
TBD / Sep. 20 |
Regional Sites
See chart above
|
Dec. 3 / Oct. 22 |
Download an examination application and handbook for candidates from the AOA web site!
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Congrats!
CONGRATULATIONS to the new
Certified Paraoptometrics (CPO’s) listed
below. Each passed the CPO examination between
July and October, 2004:
Stephanie Adamson
Heather J Allemann
Aimee M Applebury
Fareha Anwar
Cora L Artman
Melinda S Baker
Nicole M Baker
Amanda M Barnes
Darrell A Beck
Mildred H Bell
Sarah E Benson
Amy J Bishop
Kathy A Bishop
Pilar Blakely
Crystal J Blurton
Kristen L Boren
Jennifer L Bowden
Rochelle E Bowers
Melissa D Brewer
Ledja S Brown
Melissa K Brown
Melody J Byrd
Sherry C Caley-brady
Brianna C Callahan
Kathleen S Carlin
Sally A Caskey
Brande H Casson
Lisa M Cavanaugh
Christine M Chadbourne
Annette Clark
Linda K Clark
Juanita M Clayman
Lauren E Clement
Joyce L Coombs
Hope M Cox
Jennifer L Darnell
Angie R Davis
Kathleen A Davis
Angela R Day
Sheila J Day
Tricia M Diaz
Debra A Diehl
Jennifer J Dieter
Nadine R Dirda
Erin E Dirksen
Ambrosia M Dixon
Maria N Dodson
Nina C Dozier
Sallie J Duffy
Katrina J Dwyer
Martha J Eckman
Jami L Emmert
Emilee Escudero
Rebecca A Evans
Marquita Felix
Mardesia S Finch
Martha S Fitzsimmons
Teresa J Foster
Michelle L Franklin
Samantha A Gallant |
Michelle R Garcia
Irma M Geller
Kim A Glenn
Melanie A Gray
Jennifer A Green
Lia D Guinn
Geremy O Gully
Dawn M Gunter
Connie J Harpole
Shalene C Harris
Lesli M Harrison
Kevin L Hedgepeth
Sara A Henderson
Jennifer L Hill
Patricia G Hillebrand
Margaret M Hinck
Ruth C Hinerman
Markel B Hoffman
Kathi L Hoffman
Martha A Holder
Becky L Holleman
Candy R Holte
Mary E Husa
Marilyn K Ille
Melody A Ingalis
Renea F Inman
Terry L Jeffers
Vanja B Jennings
Tara J Jernigan
Susan R Johnson
Jeffrey G Johnson
Mary E Jones
Kristie M Kephart
Carri C Kifer
Kimberly J Kilday
Tammi C Kimbell
Brandi M Kirby
Mark D Kubica
Melissa Landes
Brienna L Landis
Michael C Lantis
Jamie S Leeper
Debra J Lesback
Jane Lim
Denise M Lippoldt
Stacie L Lira
Jillian A Loy
Michele M Luke
Connie J Manser
Jodie Masnick
Jamie D McAtee
Katie P McCarran
Natalie N McDougall
Cassey D McDowell
Pam J McGregor
Elizabeth K McIntosh
Shalee A Medd
Stephanie R Miller
Amanda M Moore |
Andrea L Mosher
Mami A Murk
Rebecca I Murphy
Hillary D Neeland
Melissa A Nieto
Johnica L Nunez
Felicia K Odeair
Rose S Omura
Ruth E Ottlyk
Brandi N Park
Janie E Parks
Jennifer L Patterson
Peggy J Peterson
Katy Polone
Claire A Pomeroy
Jaime L Popolo
Karen E Poffitt
Jennifer Quine
Renee M Rammel
Elizabeth A Ruchaber
Cristella Samples
Trisha L Sanchez
Cody J Sandone
Crystal D Schmitt
Kora L Schofield
Jeanette Scott
Nicole V Scott
Nancy A Seeley
Jentry E Sever
Meghan D Sharkey
Amanda J Shaw
Brenda J Sherman
Shannon Shipman
Leti Shook
Shani Simpson
Aimee M Smith
Genise L Smith
Wesley J Smith
Angela D Springer
Mandy M Sutherland
Heather M Taylor
Jennifer L Taylor
Shannon K Thomas
Patricia E Todd
Martha M Tompkins
Kenny E Trummel
Brooke N Tubbs
Vicki L Tucker
Natasha M Vess
Brook M Vignery
Dusty L Wade
Katherine A Wells
Cynthia M Wendzicki
Elizabeth A Williams
Joyce A Williams
Karen S Workman
Melissa C Ybarra
Timothy L Yearout
Amanda J Young |
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Sponsorship Recognition
 The CPC would like to extend a special thank you to CIBA Vision, A Novartis Company for sponsoring the certified paraoptometric program since its inception. Drs. Richard Weisbarth and Dwight Ackerman recently met with the AOA Industry Relations Department and CPC Vice Chair, Alvin Levin, OD and discussed future goals of the CPC. It is through the support of CIBA Vision that enables the success of the certification program and allows for continued growth of the CPC.
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