About the TOA| Doctors| Paraoptometrics| Students and Educators

Renewal

Requirements For Renewal
Commission on Paraoptometric Certification

Rationale

Recertification of an individual's specialty through maintenance of continuing education requirements assists the professional to remain current in his/her field and aware of recent development in research, theory, and practice of the specialty. Renewal of the certification indicates a participation or adherence to expected levels of standards of professional growth standards within the field. Recertification shows that they are up-to-date and at the leading edge of developments in the profession. Recertification is a commitment to career-long learning and a commitment to the principle of lifelong learning is therefore central to maintenance of competence and, by extension, to ensuring the public can expect high professional standards from their optometric assistants.

Purpose of Renewal

The CPC renewal program helps assure that Certified Paraoptometrics remain current in optometric assisting skills and knowledge. The purpose of recertification is to ensure that certified paraoptometrics maintain their competence to practice by increasing their knowledge, interacting with their peers, and meeting professional standards.

Participation and General Requirements

If you hold a designation of CPO, CPOA or CPOT you must participate in continuing education activities and report such activities to the CPC every three years. You must earn a minimum of 18 hours every three years. Failure to meet this requirement will result in loss of CPC designation.

PLEASE NOTE Credits cannot be carried over from previous renewal cycle.

Schedule

Renewals are due every third year on July 1. The cycle is set on a calendar year. For example, if you earn your CPO certification anytime between January-December 2004, you renewal will be due on July 1, 2007. Should you earn a higher designated level the following year, your renewal date will then be due one year later. For example, you are a CPO who earned this designation in 2004. In 2005, you earn your CPOA designation. Therefore, your renewal will come due July 1, 2008.

Renewal Activities/Courses

The CPC determines what education/activity is acceptable for renewal. Please refer to Table #1 for information.

Detailed Procedures

Notification

Notice is sent to certificants every January of the renewal year. Usually in late January, you will receive a letter reminding you that your certification is due in July of that year. Accepted continuing education or activities can be downloaded from the website if desired.
Renewal statements mailed every June of the renewal year. In early June of your renewal year, you will receive your official notification stating your renewal is due on July 1 of the current year. All documented proof of continuing education must be submitted with the statement and the renewal fee indicated. Do not send payment without enclosing continuing education credits.

A second notice will be mailed to anyone not renewing his or her certification in August of the current year. A late fee of $15 will be added to the renewal fee indicated.

Any CPC certificant who does not renew by December 31 of the renewal year, will lose their designation and be dropped from the CPC program.

Keeping Track of Credits

You are responsible for keeping track of your own activities and compiling supporting documentation.

Set up a file or binder for all CPC materials. It is very important to set up a personal procedure for tracking CPC renewal credits. You may prefer a file or pocket folder or a 3-ring binder. You will want to keep this CPC Certification Renewal Guide, supporting documents and a running list of CPC credits earned in this file.
Use the Voluntary CPC Log Form to keep track of your hours. There are log forms available to help you keep track of your activities and hours earned. At least once a year, you will want to review and update your records. A good time to check your records is when you receive your reminder letter in January of the renewal year. Keeping track of your records will make it easy for you to prepare for renewal. The CPC does not track your credits earned.
Keep original documentation that verifies credit earned. Retain all documentation supporting your renewal. You will need to submit this documentation when you renew. Be sure the information includes your name, date of course or activity, and is validated by the sponsor or educator. It must also state in number of hours the length of the activity or course. Acceptable credit is listed on Table 1 and on the AOA Web site (www.aoa.org).

Reporting

Do not report until notified. Do not report, send documentation or payment until you receive your statement.
You must renew on or before December 31 of your renewal year. You must renew your certification or you risk losing your designation with the CPC.

Counting CPC Approved Hours

Keep track of hours as they are earned. When maintaining your records, you may have credits that have a portion of a full hour. For example, you may receive a credit of 1.5 hours. Do keep track of these as they may be needed at the time of renewal. Total points are not rounded up. For example, you may have 17.5 credit hours at the end of your renewal cycle. This does not meet the requirement of 18 hours.
Points earned during a cycle may be claimed for that cycle only. Points do not carry over. Credits earned for renewal are only acceptable if they were earned within the three-year cycle. For example, should you become certified in 2004 and your renewal is July 2007, the CPC will only accept credit from 2004-2007.

Notification of Renewal

CPC will review your credits earned and determine if they are acceptable according to the guidelines.

CPC Renewal Approved.

If you meet the renewal requirements, submit the appropriate fee by your due date, the CPC will send you a letter of renewal acceptance along with an updated seal for your current certificate.

CPC Renewal Not Approved.

If you do not meet the renewal requirements (18 hours and renewal fee), you will receive a letter of explanation. You may at that time request an extension of time to renew. If you resolve the issue, and reapply for renewal by submitting the required documentation and fee, the CPC will notify you that you have met the requirements and update your record accordingly.
If you do not renew on or by December 31 of your renewal year, the CPC will notify you that you have lost your designation.

Renewal Fees

Renewal fees for all CPC Certified individuals	$ 75
Renewals received after the due date will be charged a late fee of:	$ 15

Reacquiring CPC Designation

If you do not renew your certification and lose your designation, you have a three-year period from the notification date during which you can reacquire your certification designation lost. You must register, pay and successfully pass the examination of the designation you lost. Three years after losing your designation for failing to meet CPC Renewal Requirements, you must reapply and begin at the first level of CPO. For example, if you are a CPOA and have not renewed, you will have three years in which to retest at that level. Should you wish to recertify after that three-year period, you will need to start at the CPO level.

Extensions

You may request an extension for renewal, only within your renewal year, from the CPC. This must be in the form of a written request. However, an extension may shorten the next CPC renewal cycle.

Appeals Procedures

You may make a written appeal of any decisions of CPC relating to renewal compliance. In the appeal, you may:

Seek an extension of time to complete the CPC renewal requirements, or
Seek a partial exemption from the requirements.

All appeals must be addressed to the CPC Administrator in writing within six months of notification of not having complied with CPC requirements. The CPC reviews and acts on all appeals.

Exemptions. You may appeal in writing to request a partial exemption from CPC renewal requirements. An exemption allows CPC to waive part or all of the requirements when there is an undue hardship, incapacity or disability, or other extenuating circumstances. Supporting documents must accompany the written request to provide justification.

Table 1: Acceptable Requirements

Accepted Education Sponsors for Renewal

American Optometric Association
Schools and Colleges of Optometry
Regional and International Optometric Conferences
COPE approved courses
JCAHPO approved courses
ABO and NCLE approved courses
State Optometric Associations
State or Local Paraoptometric Associations
Optometric Extension Program Foundation approved courses
Recognized Paraoptometric Institutions
Providers pre-approved by the CPC

Accepted Activities for Renewal

Oral presentation of lectures and/or workshops approved by the CPC or above approved providers
Authorship or co-authorship of work related articles and manuscripts approved by the CPC or above approved providers

Suggested Subject Matter

Anatomy and Physiology
Basic Procedures
Coding Workshop
Contact Lenses
Corneal Topography
Corrective Surgery
CPR Certified/First Aid
HIPAA
Low Vision
Ophthalmic Optics and Dispensing
Ophthalmic Pharmacology
Practice Management
Refractive Status of the Eye
Special Procedures

Renewal

Requirements For Renewal Commission on Paraoptometric Certification

Detailed Procedures

Requirements For Renewal
Commission on Paraoptometric Certification