National Certification for AF Ophthalmic Technicians

1
National Certification for AF Ophthalmic
Technicians
AMC Command Coordinators JCAHPO - TSgt Alicia
Stevenson Travis AFB, DSN 799-3979 AOA - TSgt
Michael Wild Travis AFB, DSN 799-7169
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Objectives

• Explain Certification Process
• Provide information for alternative test sites
• Give guidance on funding sources

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JCAHPO Certification Process
Complete AAO Home Study Course with minimum 80
Eligibility Requirements
Minimum 1 year experience in ophthalmic care
Current CPR Card
Testing
Fill out application available at JCAHPO Website
www.jcahpo.org
Obtaining Ophthalmology Certification at COA level
Test at approved sites or base education office
AAO Home Study Course- 145 The Academy Store
Products
Costs
Certification Test- 300
12 College Credits
Benefits
Meets AFSC certification requirement
Application must be signed by supervising
Ophthalmologist and include results of Home Study
Course. 90 day test window upon approval of
application. Testing sites can be found on
www.prometric.com/jcahpo.
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AOA Certification Process
Graduates from approved paraoptometric program
within 5yrs of graduating tech school
Eligibility Requirements
See CPOA/T Handbook at http//www.aoa.org/document
s/cpoa.pdf
Fill out application
Testing Process
Test at approved sites or through Base Education
Office
Obtaining Optometry Certification at CPOA/T level
Home study course available from AOA 85
Costs
CPOT Certification Test- 195
No special testing fee if taken at Base Education
Office
Benefits
Meets AFSC certification requirement
Reference Form http//www.aoa.org/documents/C
POTReference.pdf Application for Testing
http//www.aoa.org/documents/paraCertApp.pdf Ho
me study course http//www.aoa.org/x2494.xml

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Air Force Request For Local Certification
Testing (No additional charge required)
This information must be attached to your
application when requesting certification testing
at your Base Education office.
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Possible Funding Sources

• TDY Funds
• Most likely source of funding per RMO
• Third Party Collections
• VA Reimbursement
• Procedures may vary depending on location.
  Contact your Squadron Superintendent for local
  policies.

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TDY Funds

• Add Certification Costs to projected TDY Budget
• AOA Conferences (SECO, FSO, AOA) all offer
  certification testing on site
• JCAHPO conferences offer review sessions only
• Contact Flight Superintendent for local TDY
  request process

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Third Party Collections

• Not a guaranteed source of funding
• Contact your Third Party Collection office for
  funding availability

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VA REIMBURSEMENT

• Use as Last Resort (MGIB Entitlement)
• Requires up front cost to member
• Counts against Lifetime Certification Benefit
  (Cap is 9500)
• For procedures visit www.aoa.org/x2876.xml.
  (Checklist can be used for both AOA and JCAHPO)

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Questions/Comments?
Please contact the respective coordinators below
for any questions
AMC Command Coordinators JCAHPO - TSgt Alicia
Stevenson Travis AFB, DSN 799-3979 Email
alicia.stevenson_at_travis.af.mil AOA - TSgt Michael
Wild Travis AFB, DSN 799-7169
Email michael.wild_at_travis.af.mil