ACVREP has a new CE application that you can download from our “Downloads” page or access by clicking on the following link:

• Application For Continuing Education Program Approval

Frequently Asked Questions

Question #1: Who is a CE provider?
Answer #1: A CE provider can be an individual or representative acting on behalf of an organization or company. ACVREP certificants can also seek ACVREP approval for a specific CE program/activity, if the CE provider chooses not to seek ACVREP approval.

Question #2: Why should a CE provider seek ACVREP approval for its CE program/activity?
Answer #2: ACVREP certificants who are using the new recertification criteria (effective July 1, 2003) must obtain all of their CE hours from ACVREP approved CE providers, beginning July 1, 2004. As a result of this requirement, ACVREP certificants will actively seek and attend CE programs/activities that have been ACVREP approved.
Another reason for CE providers to seek ACVREP approval is to market their CE programs and attract a larger audience of attendees.

Question #3: How do I apply for ACVREP approval?
Answer #3: You can either download the “Application For Continuing Education Program Approval” from our “Downloads” page or call the ACVREP office at 520-887-6816 and we will send/email you an application. The application provides specific instructions as to how to apply for ACVREP approval and identifies what attachments should be included with the application. Please note that your application will not be processed until the annual application fee and all required attachments have been submitted (see Question #8 below).

Question #4: How much does it cost to seek ACVREP approval?
Answer #4: There is an annual $75.00 non-refundable application fee for the programs/activities submitted for ACVREP approval. There are also “offering” fees attached to each CE program/activity provided. The offering fee schedule is as follows:

Non-profit organizations, governmental agencies, and state funded educational programs

The following fees apply to one-day on-site activities (e.g., workshops, in-service trainings, seminars):

1. $50.00 for one offering.
2. $100.00 for two offerings.
3. $150.00 for three offerings.
4. $200.00 for four offerings.
5. $250.00 for five offerings.
6. $300.00 for six offerings.
7. $350.00 for seven offerings.
8. $400.00 for eight offerings.
9. $450.00 for nine offerings.
10. $500.00 for ten or more offerings.

Note #1: The offering fee for on-line or distance education courses is $50.00 for the one-year period.

Note #2: If the CE program/activity is a one-day conference, there will be a $50.00 offering fee. If the conference is two or more days, there will be a $100.00 offering fee.

Note #3: The above fees also apply to ACVREP certificants who want to (individually or as a group) seek ACVREP approval for CE programs/activities.

For-profit organizations

The following fees apply to one-day on-site activities (e.g., workshops, in-service trainings, seminars):

1. $100.00 for one offering.
2. $200.00 for two offerings.
3. $300.00 for three offerings.
4. $400.00 for four offerings.
5. $500.00 for five offerings.
6. $600.00 for six offerings.
7. $700.00 for seven offerings.
8. $800.00 for eight offerings.
9. $900.00 for nine offerings.
10. $1,000.00 for ten or more offerings.

Note #1: The offering fee for on-line or distance education courses is $100.00 for the one-year period.

Note #2: If the CE program/activity is a one-day conference, there will be a $100.00 offering fee. If the conference is two or more days, there will be a $200.00 offering fee.

Question #5: For what period of time is ACVREP approval granted?
Answer #5: ACVREP approval for a specific CE program/activity or group of programs/activities is good for one year from the date of approval.

Question #6: How far in advance should I complete and submit the Application For Continuing Education Program Approval?
Answer #6: To guarantee that approval will be received prior to the CE program/activity, please submit the completed application and required documentation at least 90 days in advance of the program/activity date. This allows the ACVREP office an opportunity to review the application (to ensure that the application fee and all required attachments are included) prior to it being sent to the CE Committee. The CE Committee then has 15 days in which to review the application and render a decision regarding its approval. Finally, the 90 day time period also allows ACVREP to publicize the event on its website for all certificants to see.

Note #1: If you are submitting an annual application that has multiple CE offerings, but you do not have all of the required materials available for each offering at the time the application is submitted, you will need to submit all materials related to each offering at least 90 days in advance of the offering in order for it to be ACVREP approved. A late fee may be charged if CE offering related materials are not submitted at least 90 days prior to the actual date(s) of the CE program/activity.

Note #2: You can not use the ACVREP logo prior to obtaining ACVREP approval for your CE program/activity. However, you can state in your promotional materials that “ACVREP approval has been applied for and that certificants should visit ACVREP’s website at www.acvrep.org (“Continuing Education Opportunities” page) to check on whether or not the CE program/activity has been approved.”

Question #7: Can I apply for ACVREP approval regardless of the content of my CE program/activity?
Answer #7: No. Continuing education activities taken for recertification credit must focus on increasing the certificant’s knowledge and/or skills in the practice of vision rehabilitation and education, in one or more of the following areas (the application provides additional information under each area):

1. The Visual System And Vision Loss.
2. The Auditory System And Hearing Loss.
3. Psychosocial Aspects Of Visual Impairment.
4. Professionalism In Vision Education And Rehabilitation.
5. Professional Information.
6. Individuals Who Are Visually Impaired With Additional Disabilities.
7. Aging And Vision Loss.
8. Sensory Motor Functioning.
9. Human Growth And Development Over The Lifespan.
10. Assessment Of Persons With Visual Impairment And Their Environments.
11. Instructional Methods.
12. Development, Administration, And Supervision Of Programs Serving Persons With Visual Impairment.
13. Communication, Team-Building, Consumerism, Cultural Diversity, And Working With Families.

Question #8: What attachments/documents do I need to include with the completed CE application?
Answer #8: ACVREP requires that certain attachments/documents be included with the CE application. These items are listed in the CE application and are as follows:

a. A check made payable to ACVREP that includes the annual non-refundable $75 application fee and appropriate offering fee(s). Please note that a service fee of $25.00 will be assessed for all checks returned for insufficient funds or for charges made to closed accounts. Also, please note that if the application is not approved, the offering fee will be refunded.

b. CE program/activity title(s).

c. Speaker names (if information is available) or state “To Be Announced.” If speaker information is available, a “CE Presentation Information Sheet” for each speaker/presenter (see Appendix A) must be completed. The speakers/instructors must have education and/or experience appropriate to the subject matter. Also, a speaker or presenter who has a financial interest in any of the items or services presented in the course must disclose this at the time of application and at the beginning of each program.

d. Tentative date(s) for each CE program/activity offering.

e. Procedure for verifying attendance. Please note that attendance needs to be verified at each workshop of a conference.

f. Sample certificate of completion. After verifying attendance at the program, a certificate of completion must be given to each ACVREP certificant that includes the following line: “This program has been approved by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) for (insert number of hours) CE hours.” The certificate must also state the date(s) that the CE program/activity was held. See Appendix C for a sample certificate of completion.

The following materials must be submitted as they become available, but not later than 90 days prior to the actual CE program/activity offering:

g. One copy of the promotional material, such as direct mail flyers or marketing
brochures.

h. An outline or agenda, if not contained within the promotional material, to include the date(s) of the CE program/activity and the length of the CE program/activity in actual clock hours (this must be clearly stated). The CE program/activity must be no less than one clock hour in duration. A clock hour is defined as 60 minutes of instruction. Approval will be granted for direct instruction (presentations/lectures), poster sessions, and exhibits (up to one hour). Approval will not be granted for meals, breaks, social activities or business meetings.

i. A description of the CE program's content areas, including learning goals and objectives. The purpose of the CE program/activity must be clearly defined in terms of expected outcomes/learning objectives. If the CE program is a conference, goals and objectives will need to be developed for each workshop.

j. A copy of the evaluation form that each participant will complete after the CE program/activity (see Appendix B). The CE program/activity must include an evaluation component completed by each participant. This is an evaluation of the program’s value, not an assessment of the participant’s learning skills (see Appendix B for a sample evaluation form). Please ensure that copies of all evaluation forms are forwarded to ACVREP upon completion of the program/activity.

k. A brief summary of the program/activity to put on ACVREP’s website (see Appendix D). This should include the CE program/activity date(s) and location, number of approved CE hours, and the name and phone number of the contact person. Please note that ACVREP retains the right to modify this summary, as needed.

l. If the organization has a financial interest in the products or techniques used in the continuing education course, a list of such products and/or techniques should be submitted.

Question #9: What is a CE hour?
Answer #9: One hour of continuing education is equivalent to 60 minutes of instruction or participation. Clock hour credit is not given for social hours, coffee breaks, or meals during which instruction is not provided. One CE hour equals 1 point.

Question #10: Will ACVREP accept Continuing Education Units (CEUs)?
Answer #10: Yes. In addition to accepting CE hours, ACVREP will also accept CEUs. When completing the CE application, be sure to state the number of CEUs the participant can obtain upon completion of the CE program/activity. Please note that 1 CE hour is equivalent to 0.1 CEU.