Before you apply for certification, you must first determine the discipline in which you are interested in seeking certification.  ACVREP certifies professionals in Low Vision Therapy, Orientation and Mobility, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy (formerly Rehabilitation Teaching).  For additional information on each of the three disciplines, please visit:

The “Low Vision Therapy” page (click here).
The “Orientation and Mobility” page (click here).
The “Vision Rehabilitation Therapy” page (click here).

You can also review the following certification handbooks, which provide more detailed information about each discipline:

Low Vision Therapy certification handbook (click here).
Orientation and Mobility certification handbook (click here).
Vision Rehabilitation Therapy certification handbook (click here).

Finally, you should also review the Code of Ethics pertaining to the discipline in which you might seek certification.

For the Low Vision Therapy Code of Ethics, click here.
For the Orientation and Mobility Code of Ethics, click here.
For the Vision Rehabilitation Therapy Code of Ethics, click here.

Once you have determined the discipline in which you want to seek certification, ACVREP certification is a three-step process.

STEP #1 - Complete an eligibility application for the discipline (Low Vision Therapy, Orientation and Mobility or Vision Rehabilitation Therapy) in which you are seeking certification.

For a Low Vision Therapy eligibility application, click here.
For an Orientation and Mobility eligibility application, click here.
For a Vision Rehabilitation Therapy eligibility application, click here.

Although the eligibility applications contain the respective discipline’s eligibility criteria, eligibility criteria for each discipline can also be found on the “Eligibility Criteria” page (click here).

Each eligibility application contains several categories under which you can apply. If you are unsure of which category to select, call the ACVREP office at 520-887-6816.

Once you have determined the appropriate category, you will need to submit the following items with your eligibility application:

1. Eligibility application fee (click here to access the “Fee Structure” page). Please note that there are discounts for AER (Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired) and AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association) members.
2. Official transcripts documenting at least a Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalency. Photocopies will not be accepted.
3. A Clinical Competency Evaluation Form, which must be completed at the end of your 350-hour internship. The Form must be completed by an ACVREP certificant (Certified Low Vision Therapist, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist or Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist).
4. If applicable, a Core Domain Area Chart.
5. If applicable, course descriptions/syllabi.

Please note: University/college students may take any of ACVREP’s exams prior to completing their 350-hour internship and/or graduating from their university program. For additional information regarding our University Students program, please see the “Attention University Students” page (click here).

STEP #2 - Once your eligibility application has been received and you’ve been determined eligible to sit for the exam, you will receive an Exam Registration Form. You can either take the exam at one of the sites listed on the “Exam Information” page or you can elect to take the exam in your own community (click here to access the “Exam Information” page). Regardless of which option you choose, the Exam Registration Form and exam fee (click here to access the “Fee Structure” page) need to be submitted to the ACVREP office at least three weeks prior to the exam date.

If you would like to take the exam in your own community, you will be responsible for paying any testing center and/or proctor fees, unless you can find two other individuals who want to take one of our exams.  If there are three or more individuals who want to take any of our exams, ACVREP will pay all testing center and/or proctor fees.  If you need assistance in scheduling an exam in your community, please contact Jessica Trevino at 520-887-6816

In terms of studying for the exam, ACVREP does not sell study guides. Please contact AER at 1-877-492-2708 to purchase the Low Vision Therapy study guide. Study guides for Orientation and Mobility and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy are not currently available.

Each of our certification handbooks has a “Test at a Glance” section that provides specific information about the exam (e.g., how many and what type of questions are on the exam) and specific topics to study for the exam. This section also contains sample questions and a list of all references used to develop the questions (bibliography).

To access the Low Vision Therapy certification handbook, click here.
To access the Orientation and Mobility certification handbook, click here.
To access the Vision Rehabilitation Therapy certification handbook, click here.

If you fail the exam, you can retake it as many times as you need until you pass it. However, please note that there is a $100 exam fee for each exam you take.

If you pass the exam, you will proceed to STEP #3.

STEP #3 – If you pass the exam, you will be sent an Application for Certification. The application and appropriate fee (click here to access the “Fee Structure” page) will need to be submitted by March 1st, June 1st, September 1st or December 1st as the ACVREP Board of Directors only meets quarterly. Once we receive your application, it will then be forwarded to the ACVREP Board of Directors for final approval. If approved by the board, you will be certified for a five-year period. You will receive a congratulatory letter and certificate. In addition, you will also be posted in the Directory of Certificants (click here to access the “Directory of Certificants” page), which is updated quarterly. If the board does not approve your application, you will receive a letter stating such and the reason your application wasn’t approved. If you don’t agree with the board’s decision, you always have the right to appeal it. Information regarding the appeal process can be found on the ACVREP website (click here to access “The Appeal Process” page).

Six months prior to your certification expiration date, you will receive a letter reminding you that it is time to recertify. If we don’t hear from you within three months, you will then be sent a three-month reminder letter. Please note that it is your responsibility to report any address, phone number and/or email address changes to us in order to ensure that you receive important correspondence regarding your certification.