ACVREP RECERTIFICATION POLICY 

PLEASE NOTE: Effective September 13, 2003, ACVREP certificants now have the option of retaking the ACVREP certification exam(s) in lieu of submitting the professional activity points needed for recertification. If a certificant prefers to retake the certification exam to recertify, s/he must note this on the ACVREP Recertification Application.

ACVREP adheres to the belief that individuals certified as vision rehabilitation and education professionals should continue to expand their knowledge and skills in order to enhance the quality of the services they provide.

• Obtain information on current trends.
• Explore new technologies.
• Develop balanced professional judgment and enhance critical skills.
• Acquire knowledge in specific focus areas.

Recertification Requirements

The recertification program allows ACVREP certificants to maintain continuing professional competence in the field of vision rehabilitation and education. If the certificant chooses to submit documentation of professional activity points for recertification (versus retaking the certification exam), all recertification points must be earned during the five-year recertification cycle. No credit is given for points earned prior to or following the end of the recertification cycle. It is each certificant’s responsibility to collect and maintain all documentation relating to recertification activities over his/her five-year cycle of certification. It is also the certificant’s responsibility to submit a complete recertification application and appropriate recertification documentation before the end of the five-year recertification cycle. The recertification application and documentation must include the recertification fee.

1. Recertification is required every five years. The ACVREP office will send each certificant a six-month reminder letter prior to his/her certification expiration date. A second notice will be sent to the certificant if the ACVREP office does not hear from him/her three months prior to his/her certification expiration date.
2. The certificant must complete the ACVREP Recertification Application and submit it to the ACVREP office with the appropriate recertification fee and supporting documentation of the 100 points required for recertification (see the section of the application titled “Recertification Activities and Point Values”). If the certificant chooses to retake the certification exam to recertify, s/he must still submit the ACVREP Recertification Application and the appropriate recertification fee, as well as a $100 examination fee. S/he will also have to cover any testing center and/or proctor fees.
3. Applicants for recertification must earn 100 points to renew their certification at the end of the five-year cycle. They must submit a minimum of 25 points from Category One – Continuing Education. They may also submit all 100 points from Category One. For the remaining categories (Professional Experience, Publications and Presentations, and Professional Service), applicants are allowed a maximum of 50 points for each of these categories.
4. Early applications for recertification may be accepted and reviewed only within six months prior to the certification expiration date. However, early applications for recertification will be issued the expiration date of the quarter in which the application was initially approved.
5. It is the responsibility of the ACVREP staff to check each application to see that it is complete. If it is not complete, the applicant will be notified and requested to provide the required information to complete the application.
6. Recertification applications will be due to the ACVREP office by the first of March, June, September, and December.
7. Recertification applications will be reviewed and a written report of requests for recertification will be submitted to the ACVREP Board of Directors for approval by March 10th, June 10th, September 10th, and December 10th.
8. Upon the majority approval by the ACVREP Board of Directors, certificates will be issued with the respective expiration dates of March 31st, June 30th, September 30th, December 31st.
9. Recertification will be issued for five years
   

Reinstatement of Certification Policy

Candidates initially granted certification, but who have not made application for recertification and, thus, technically have allowed their certification to lapse, may be reinstated within one calendar year following the certification expiration date if they meet the recertification requirements and pay the recertification late fee and any annual fees owed.

If a candidate has allowed his/her certification to lapse or has been determined to be ineligible for recertification for longer than one year, s/he will have to meet the current certification eligibility requirements, including passing the certification examination. The candidate must submit the necessary forms and fees. The candidate must also pay any fees owed to ACVREP.

Certificants should notify the ACVREP office of any change in their mailing address and/or e-mail address. ACVREP will make every reasonable effort to send a six-month reminder letter to current certificants by regular mail six months prior to the certification expiration date. However, it is the certificant’s responsibility to make application for recertification by the recertification due date. Because of the possibility of postal delays, ACVREP urges applicants for recertification to send their application to the ACVREP office well in advance of the expiration date on their current certificate. ACVREP asks that certificants pay particular attention to their certification expiration date. If the recertification application is received 30-postmarked days after the certification expiration date, the certificant will have to pay a late fee.

Refer to the ACVREP website at http://www.acvrep.org for a current Directory of Certificants.  

Approved Content Areas

Continuing education activities for recertification credit must focus on increasing the knowledge and/or skills of the individual, in the practice of vision rehabilitation and education, in one or more of the following areas:

1.                  The Visual System and Vision Loss: visual system and visual functioning, the etiology of visual impairments and the effects of these impairments on visual functioning, the pathology and effect of systemic health conditions on vision, basic optics of the eyes, basic optics of refractive lenses, and basic optics of low vision devices. 

2.         The Auditory System and Hearing Loss:  auditory system and functioning; effects of hearing loss and impairment; communication systems used by persons with auditory impairments; loss of hearing so severe that it is nonfunctional for the ordinary activities of daily living; and concomitant hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which may present unique communication, learning, developmental, orientation and mobility, and social needs.    

3.         Psychosocial Aspects of Visual Impairment: cultural and psychosocial factors affecting adjustment to visual loss; the resources for addressing student, family, and community responses to visual impairment; and systems and professionals in counseling. 

4.         Professionalism in Vision Education and Rehabilitation: professional roles and functions, professional goals and objectives, professional organizations and associations, professional history and trends, ethical and legal standards, professional preparation standards, and professional credentialing.

6.         Individuals Who are Visually Impaired With Additional Disabilities: including sensory, sensorimotor, and physical impairments; mobility impairments not related to visual impairment; developmental disabilities; learning disabilities; diabetes; organic brain damage; and challenging behaviors. 

7.        Aging and Vision Loss: normal age-related changes in vision and visual functioning, other prevalent age-related health changes, prevalent visual impairments associated with aging and their functional consequences, service delivery systems in aging, geriatric and gerontological health practices and professionals, and service delivery in visual rehabilitation relevant to older persons.     

8.         Sensory and Motor Functioning: sensory and motor systems, the manner in which these systems affect orientation and locomotion and other daily activities and functions, and the effects of visual impairment on sensory and motor functioning. 

9.         Human Growth and Development over the Lifespan: the effects of visual impairments and multiple impairments on affective, psychomotor, and cognitive development and processes; and characteristic and atypical developmental patterns of persons with visual and/or multiple impairments. 

10.       Assessment of Persons with Visual Impairment and their Environments: strategies and methods used to conduct assessments of persons who have a visual impairment and their environment, and the development of individualized education and rehabilitation plans. 

11.       Instructional Methods: teaching and therapeutic strategies and interventions to promote independence and coping skills, including instruction in the use of visual and non-visual techniques, Braille and other tactual systems, auditory systems, environmental modifications, computer technology, adaptive mobility devices, low vision devices and innovative technology for use by individuals who are visually impaired.

12.       Development, Administration, and Supervision of Programs Serving Persons with Visual Impairment: service delivery systems; strategies for organizing and administering programs; quality indicators of services; the role of the vision rehabilitation and education profession and other personnel in the provision of quality educational, rehabilitation, public and private services to persons who are visually impaired; major legislation and policies affecting services for persons who are visually impaired; and local, state and national resources for the provision of services. 

13.       Communication, Team-Building, Consumerism, Cultural Diversity, And Working With Families: developing strategies for effective communications (spoken and written); fostering and supporting consumers in self-advocacy; and principles and strategies for effective teamwork among professionals, consumers, and significant others in vision rehabilitation and education, including issues related to cultural diversity and working with families.

Recertification Activities and Point Values

 Applicants for recertification must earn 100 points to renew their certification at the end of the five-year cycle.  They must submit a minimum of 25 points from Category One – Continuing Education.  They may also submit all 100 points from Category One.  For the remaining categories (Professional Experience, Publications and Presentations, and Professional Service), applicants are allowed a maximum of 50 points for each of these categories.

Category One:  Continuing Education  
(A minimum of 25 points is required from this area)  

Continuing education (CE) activities may include workshops, seminars, conferences, independent studies, and in-service programs. CE hours obtained after July 1, 2004 must be ACVREP approved.

One hour of CE 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. 1 CE = 1 point.  

Official documentation of continuing education credits must include the candidate’s name, attendance dates, title of course or program, and contact hours. This can be documented through a certificate of attendance or written certification by the instructor.

College and university courses, including distance learning courses, independent studies, and university courses.

Foundation courses for credit:
1 semester credit = 15 CE hours =15 points.
1 trimester credit = 14 CE hours = 14 points.
1 quarter credit = 10 CE hours = 10 points.

ACVREP approved Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are translated into points as follows:
1 contact hour = 0.1 CEU = 1 point.
10 contact hours = 1.0 CEU = 10 points.

(A maximum of 50 points is allowed from this area)

If this category is selected for recertification, 50 points can be earned with a minimum of 360 hours of vision professional experience completed within the five-year recertification cycle. Hours less then 360 are not eligible towards recertification. The hours can be accumulated through the performance of one or several of the following professional roles:

Direct Service Provider – delivers service directly to consumers/students as a vision rehabilitation/education professional by performing assessments, developing and implementing individual programs and treatment plans, documenting assessments and interventions, and working on an interdisciplinary team.

Department, Distance Learning or Internship Supervisor – supervises vision rehabilitation/education personnel and/or students in the direct delivery of service to persons with visual impairments. 

Administrator – administers a department or a division that includes vision rehabilitation/education services. 

Consultant – performs consulting services in vision rehabilitation/education for organizations, educational institutions, agencies or corporations. 

Volunteer – volunteers services performed in any of the various roles described above. 

Documentation Needed:

Applicants must verify professional experience hours through the employing agency personnel department or their immediate supervisor. The applicant’s hours can be verified through a written letter signed by his/her immediate supervisor or a representative from the personnel office/human resources department.

(A maximum of 50 points is allowed from this area)

A certificant may request credit for professional publications and presentations.  Credit will not be given for repeat or multiple presentations of the same seminar, in-service, conference, papers or poster presentation.    

 Documentation Needed:

Copy of the publication or a copy of the title page, table of contents, and publication date. If the publication is in the process of being published, a publisher’s notice of acceptance is permissible.  For presentations, submit evidence of the presentation (e.g., program announcement, brochure) as well as the presentation date, exact number of contact hours, and a letter confirming that the presentation was completed (e.g., a thank you letter.).  For peer review, submit a letter of verification from the publisher or journal editor. 

Category Four:  Professional Service

(A maximum of 50 points is allowed from this area)

Paid or volunteer:  includes professional activities such as service on professional boards, councils, legislative work, standards development, and curriculum development related to vision rehabilitation/education for a professional organization, university program or facility in the field of vision rehabilitation and education.

Documentation Needed:

Letters of verification of service provided by the university personnel or by the employer.  Letters of verification documenting the office held and dates held from the board chair, the chair of the committee or the secretary.