A Message From the JCAHPO® Board of Directors President
Congratulations on your decision to attain professional certification! It is highlevel ophthalmic professionals like you – with knowledge and experience in
ophthalmology – who are ideal candidates for our certifications. We appreciate
your commitment to your professional development and to promoting the
highest global standards of the ophthalmic technician profession.
Eydie Miller-Ellis, MD
JCAHPO President
2015-2017
JCAHPO's mission is to enhance the quality and availability of ophthalmic patient
care by promoting the value of qualified allied health personnel and by providing
certification and education. We work closely with ophthalmic professionals around
the world to ensure that our programs are relevant and
up-to-date.
As ophthalmic professionals, you are part of a global team known as Allied
Ophthalmic Personnel (AOP). JCAHPO embraces the definition of AOP as defined by the World
Health Organization (WHO) Universal eye health: A global action plan 2014-2019 (2013).
The definition of AOP includes opticians, ophthalmic nurses, orthoptists, ophthalmic
ocularists, ophthalmic photographers/imagers, and ophthalmic administrators.
This handbook will give you an overview of the following credentials:
Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA®)
Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT®)
Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT®)
Ophthalmic Surgical Assisting (OSA®)
Registered Ophthalmic Ultrasound Biometrist (ROUB®)
Certified Diagnostic Ophthalmic Sonographer (CDOS®)
Corporate Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (CCOA®)
Ophthalmic Scribe Certification (OSC®)
With this information, which includes eligibility requirements
for each credential, you can better set and achieve your
professional goals. It also outlines the body of knowledge that
you are expected to understand and which you will be tested on
to earn your credential. In addition, this handbook provides detailed
information to guide you through the entire certification process.
The Value of Certification
Four out of five ophthalmologists
agree that certified Allied Ophthalmic
Personnel (AOP) render their practice
more productive. Studies have shown
that certified AOP contribute more than
non-certified personnel to the efficiency
and quality of care in a practice. Just
as in other professions, the value of
certification and the importance of
employing educated, trained, and
qualified professionals should be a best
practice in ophthalmology.
JCAHPO welcomes your questions as you prepare to earn your credential.
We wish you success as you pursue your JCAHPO certification.
The Standard For Which Others Strive
In August 2010, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) renewed the accreditation of the following JCAHPO certification
programs: Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA®), Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT®), Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist
(COMT®) and Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant (OSA®).
The NCCA Standards were created to ensure that certification programs adhere to standards of practice for the certification industry.
JCAHPO is one of approximately 120 organizations in the U.S. to earn NCCA accreditation. Application has not yet been made for
NCCA accreditation of the Registered Ophthalmic Ultrasound Biometrist (ROUB®) or the Certified Diagnostic Ophthalmic Sonographer
(CDOS®) certifications.
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