Optometric Assistant Certification
Optometric assistants work in the offices of optometrists, licensed doctors who care for conditions that affect the eyes. Assistants perform clerical tasks and help with examination by performing tasks like administering eye exams. Although no state requires them to gain a license to practice, optometric assistants have the option to pursue voluntary certification in the field.
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Background
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The American Optometric Association oversees the professional certification of optometric assistants. The organization began in 1898 and has its headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. As of 2010, the association boasted approximately 36,000 members. Administered through its Commission on Paraoptometric Certification arm, the AOA's certification program for optometric assistants or paraoptometrics started in 1978 as a registry system for professionals in the field. The program has evolved to include three levels of credentialing: Certified Paraoptometric, Certified Paraoptometric Assistant and Certified Paraoptometric Technician.
Certified Paraoptometric
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An entry-level credential, the Certified Paraoptometric designation allows optometric assistants to use the initials CPO after their names for professional purposes. To qualify, prospective CPOs must have a high school diploma or GED. The Commission on Paraoptometric Certification also requires applicants to have at least six months experience working in the field of optometry. Eligible applicants must pass a certification examination, which consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. The exam covers basic science, clinical procedures, ophthalmic optics and professional issues like record filing and appointment scheduling.
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Certified Paraoptometric Assistant
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After working as a CPO for six months, optometric assistants can qualify to take the the Certified Paraoptometric Assistant designation examination, which allows assistants to use the CPOA initials for professional purposes. The Commission on Paraoptometric Certification will allow assistants without CPO certification to take the test, provided they meet alternate eligibility criteria. Such assistants can qualify if they have five years of work experience in optometry or completed an optometric assistant training program accredited by the AOA. The certification exam for CPOAs has 225 questions. Topics covered on the CPO test also appear on the CPOA exam as well as questions on special optometric procedures and eye refraction.
Certified Paraoptometric Technician
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The highest level of certification is the Certified Paraoptometric Technician designation, which uses the CPOT initials. To qualify for the certification exam, optometric assistants must typically have held CPOA certification for six months. The Commission on Paraoptometric Certification will also accept applicants without CPOA certification, provided they have completed or are in their final semester of study in an education program approved by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education. The certification examination includes 250 multiple-choice questions. Topics from the CPOA tests are featured in the exam content as well as collecting case histories and conducting tests for visual and stereo acuity and color vision.
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