University students can now take any of ACVREP’s exams [Low Vision Therapy, Orientation and Mobility, Vision Rehabilitation Therapy (formerly Rehabilitation Teaching)] prior to completing their 350-hour internship and/or graduating from their university program. To take advantage of this opportunity, the student needs to complete the following two steps:

1. The student must first complete and submit an eligibility application and the appropriate application fee ($25 for AER or AOTA members or $40 for non-AER or non-AOTA members). All eligibility applications can be downloaded from the ACVREP website. Although students can submit the eligibility application and take the exam prior to completing their internship and/or graduating from their program, please note that they will not be able to apply for certification (see #3 below) until they submit all of the documents required in the eligibility application. The eligibility application clearly states which documents are required for each category. Regardless of the category, however, official transcripts (documenting at least a Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalency) and a completed Clinical Competency Evaluation Form(s) are standard requirements.
   
   
2. Once the student submits his/her eligibility application, the ACVREP office will send him/her an Exam Registration Form. The student can then arrange to take the exam at one of the sites listed on the ACVREP website (see the “Exam Information” page), at the university’s testing center or at a testing center within his/her local community. If the student would prefer that the ACVREP office schedule an exam at a time convenient to him/her, we will do this on his/her behalf. Whether the student or the ACVREP office schedules the exam, the Exam Registration Form (which contains where and when the exam will be held) must be submitted to the ACVREP office at least three weeks prior to the exam date. This allows the ACVREP office sufficient time to make all of the necessary arrangements with the testing center and proctor. Please note: If the student takes the exam with at least two other students, ACVREP will cover any testing center and/or proctor fees. However, if there is only one or two students, they would be responsible for picking up any testing center and/or proctor fees. The cost to take the exam is $100. Exams are scored within 48 hours of receipt. The student will then receive a letter informing him/her as to whether s/he passed or failed the exam. If a student fails the exam, s/he can retake it as many times as needed until s/he passes it
   
   
3. Once the student passes the exam, s/he can then apply for certification with ACVREP’s Board of Directors. However, as stated in #1 above, the student must submit all of the required documents before s/he can submit his/her certification application. The fee for the five-year certification period is $250 for AER or AOTA members or $375 for non-AER or non-AOTA members.

As a student, you may be unaware of the many advantages to securing and maintaining certification. Some of the benefits of certification include:

• Certification attests to the individual’s knowledge and skills deemed necessary to the field of practice as delineated by the profession.
• Certification attests that the individual has met basic and ongoing requirements of professional and ethical practice.
• Certification conveys a sense of pride and accomplishment in the profession.
• Certification commands the respect of other professionals who also have stringent standards for professional practice.
• Certification is likely to result in more respect from peers.
• Certification assures consumers that services are provided by professionals who have met national standards and that these professionals have the basic knowledge and skills required to provide services that will be more likely to result in reaching the consumers’ goals safely and effectively.
• Certification assists employers in identifying qualified vision rehabilitation and education professionals.
• Certification often results in professionals receiving better salaries and more opportunities for professional advancement and promotion.
• Certified professionals are more likely to be reimbursed by third party insurers.
• Certification is more likely to protect the certificant in litigation, as lawyers, judges, and jury members understand that a credentialed professional has taken the extra step to prepare himself or herself for practice.
• Certification provides a mechanism for self-study during the recertification process.
• Certification ensures that the professional’s credentials are recognized nationally and is the single best way to begin a process of developing national standardization and acceptable levels of service.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the ACVREP office at 520-887-6816.