Paraoptometric Center

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Certified Paraoptometric Assistant (CPOA)

**Note: Effective January 1, 2009, the fee to reschedule a paraoptometric examination has increased to $140.

General Information

The Certified Paraoptometric Assistant Examination is prepared and administered by the American Optometric Association, Commission on Paraoptometric Certification (CPC), with the assistance of the Professional Testing Corporation. The purpose of this examination is to confirm a level of knowledge necessary to perform the functions of a paraoptometric assistant. Those who have successfully completed the examination will be certified with the Commission on Paraoptometric Certification as a Certified Paraoptometric Assistant (CPOA).

Objectives of Certification

The CPC promotes excellence in the field of optometric assisting by:

Recognizing formally those individuals who meet all requirements of the Commission on Paraoptometric Certification of the American Optometric Association;
Encouraging continued growth of the paraoptometric;
Establishing and measuring the level of knowledge required for certification of paraoptometrics; and
Promoting a standard of requisite knowledge required for certification; thereby assisting the employer, public, and members of the health professions in the assessment of paraoptometrics.

Eligibility

Applicants must have earned the CPO title, hold a current CPO desgination, and verify a minimum of six months additional employment in the eye care field as a CPO, or:

1. Submit a current resume` with a CPOA Reference form that verifies at least 5 years employment in the eye care field and be approved by the Commission on Paraoptometric Certification to bypass the CPO examination or hold a current ABO or NCLE certification(s) (a copy of your certification will be required).

2. Graduates or students currently enrolled and in good standing in their last semester of study in an approved optometric assistant program are eligible to sit for the CPOA examination. Graduates must have completed the program within the last three years and verify their eligibility.

Application Procedure

1. Read and follow the directions on the application. The application is available on the AOA Web site and must be completed and e-mailed if paying by credit or debit card. If paying by check, the application will need to be completed online, printed, and mailed to the CPC office. No handwritten or faxed applications will be accepted.

2. The original application and appropriate fees for the examination must be received by the CPC on or before the appropriate deadline.

3. All correspondence regarding the application should be directed to the CPC at (800) 365-2219 ext. 4210 or e-mail cpc@aoa.org.

Fees for Examination

1. CPOA Examination Fee		$225
2. Student*		$100
3. Rescheduling Fee		$140 (see guidelines)

A check or credit card information for the appropriate fee must accompany your application. Make check or money order payable to the AOA-CPC in U.S. funds. No refunds will be made.

*Test candidates will be considered paraoptometric students only if they are enrolled full time in an approved formal paraoptometric education program.

Study Outline

This outline provides content information for the CPOA - Certified Paraoptometric Assistant Examination. The following outline includes a brief explanation of the areas to be tested (refer to the CPOA Handbook for Candidates for full outline). You should be familiar with all the terms, their meaning and use, and the instrumentation needed for data gathering or testing procedures. This assistant examination confirms a level of knowledge to perform the functions of a paraoptometric assistant. All 225 questions on the examination are objective and multiple choice. Passing score is determined by the CPC.

Practice Management (13%)
1. Office Procedures
2. Patient Handling
3. Office Finances
4. Professional Issues
Ophthalmic Optics and Dispensing (20%)
1. Prescriptions
2. Lenses
3. Frame Selection
4. Adjustment And Dispensing
Basic Procedures (20%)
1. Purpose and Preliminary Testing Procedures/Recording
2. Pupillary Responses
3. Case History
4. Visual Acuity
5. Color Vision
6. Stereo Acuity
7. Examination Instrumentation
Special Procedures (17%)
1. Contact Lenses
2. Tonometry
3. Visual Fields
4. Sphygmomanometry Purpose
5. First Aid
6. Low Vision
7. Surgery
Refractive Status Of The Eye And Binocularity (13%)
1. Refractive Errors
2. Refractive Conditions
3. Eye Movements
4. Binocular Vision
Basic Ocular Anatomy And Physiology (17%)
1. General Anatomy and Physiology
2. Basic Functions of Anatomical Structures
3. Common Pathological and Functional Disorders
4. Basic Ocular Pharmacology