2014-15 JCAHPO Criteria for Certification and Recertification

JCAHPO Revises Certification & Recertification Critera
We work diligently at JCAHPO in order to maintain high-quality standards for the certification of ophthalmic medical personnel. As we seek to expand JCAHPO certification world-wide, it's also imperative that we allow multiple pathways for advancement through different levels of certification. Specifically, we have added two new fast-track options for becoming a Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) and a Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT)!

COT Fast-Track (Eligibility Pathway COT-T4)
The COT Fast-Track option allows a current Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) the use of 6,000 hours of non-certified work experience prior to becoming certified, and JCAHPO Group A credits. You will need to submit 12 JCAHPO Group A credits earned within 12 months with your application, and must maintain certification as a COA while pursuing COT certification. Along with maintaining your COA certification, your 6,000 hours of non-certified work experience must be verified in the form of a signed letter from your ophthalmologist on official letterhead.

COMT Fast-Track (Eligibility Pathway COMT-TG5)
The COMT Fast-Track option allows a current Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) the use of 6,000 hours of non-certified work experience prior to becoming initially certified. You will need to submit 12 JCAHPO Group A credits earned within 12 months with your application, and must maintain certification as a COT while pursuing COMT certification. Along with maintaining your COT certification, you must have been employed for 3,000 hours as a COT, and your 6,000 hours of non-certified work experience prior to becoming certified must be verified in the form of a signed letter from your ophthalmologist on official letterhead.

Job Task Analysis
To ensure the examinations maintain relevancy, JCAHPO is required to conduct a Job Task Analysis every 5 years to assess the qualifications of individuals to perform the duties of an ophthalmic assistant, technician, and medical technologist. The current assessment of duties (Job Task Analysis) is already underway, and is slated for completion in 2015.

Questions?
For more information about JCAHPO certification levels, standards, requirements and rates, please visit www.jcahpo.org and click on 'Certification / Recertification.'