Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS)

Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT):

Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Scope of Practice Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Eligibility Criteria Certification Handbook: (Word / PDF) Code of Ethics: (Word / PDF) Eligibility Application: (Word / PDF)

Applying for ACVREP Certification: A Step by Step Process

Exam Information

Attention University Students

Fees

Downloads

These criteria apply to all individuals seeking certification after July 1, 2003. To obtain a copy of one of our eligibility applications (the applications include all of the required forms), you can do one of two things:

1. View the "Downloads" page and then click on the specific application you need.

2. Call the ACVREP office at 520-887-6816 and we'll send you a copy of the application you need.

Category 1:

Eligibility to sit for the certifying exam:

For U.S. Candidates

· Proof of a minimum of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college with an emphasis in area of Vision Rehabilitation Therapy.

For Non-U.S. Candidates

· Proof of a minimum of a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent, as verified through an independent credentialing body) or post-secondary diploma, from an accredited university or college with an emphasis in the area of Vision Rehabilitation Therapy.

Supporting documentation required (for U.S. and Non-U.S. Candidates): Official transcripts documenting the degree.

For All Candidates

· Successful completion of at least 350 hours of "discipline specific, supervised practice that includes, but is not limited to, direct service hours, and related phone calls, meetings, observations, report writing, etc." The practice must be supervised by a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT). The practice can be supervised by an onsite or offsite CVRT. The internship must include the provision of a variety of direct services to adults with vision impairments or blindness.

Supporting documentation required:

1. Clinical Competency Evaluation Form completed and signed by the CVRT practice supervisor (see Appendix A in the CVRT Eligibility Application).

Please note: Applicants completing multiple internships in order to meet the minimum hour or competency requirements, must submit a Clinical Competency Evaluation Form for all internships completed, signed by the CVRT supervisor(s).

2. If the CVRT practice supervisor is offsite, an Off-Site Supervisor Contract must also be completed, signed by the practice supervisor and applicant, and approved by the ACVREP office prior to the practice taking place (see Appendix C in the CVRT Eligibility Application).

· Sign the Statement of Endorsement agreeing to uphold high ethical and professional standards and the Statement of Integrity (see CVRT Eligibility Application).

Eligibility for ACVREP CVRT® certification:

· Pass the ACVREP Vision Rehabilitation Therapy Certification Examination demonstrating knowledge of vision rehabilitation therapy principles and applications.

· Approval by the ACVREP Board of Directors.

Category 2 (Eligibility Application Postmark Deadline - August 31, 2010):

* Termination of CVRT Category 2 Eligibility Criteria effective September 1, 2010.*

Eligibility to sit for the certifying exam

For U.S. Candidates

· Proof of a minimum of a Bachelor's degree (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credential evaluation company) in any field. The applicant must document knowledge in the 16 core domain body of knowledge areas listed below (see Appendix B in the CVRT Eligibility Application):

1. Knowledge of the Blindness System.*
2. Medical Aspects of Blindness and Low Vision.*
3. Professionalism and Practice Methods.*
4. Personal Management.*
5. Home Management.*
6. Communication Systems.*
7. Braille and Other Tactual Systems.*
8. Adaptive Computer Technology.*
9. Recreation and Leisure.*
10. Aging and Vision Loss.*
11. Deaf-Blindness.
12. Teaching and Learning Strategies.
13. Psychosocial Aspects of Blindness and Vision Loss.
14. Individuals who are Blind or Visually Impaired with Additional Disabilities.
15. Research.
16. Orientation and Mobility.

For Non-U.S. Candidates

· Proof of a minimum of a Bachelor's degree (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credential evaluation company) or post-secondary diploma in any field. The applicant must document knowledge in the 16 core domain body of knowledge areas listed below (see Appendix B in the CVRT Eligibility Application):

1. Knowledge of the Blindness System.*
2. Medical Aspects of Blindness and Low Vision.*
3. Professionalism and Practice Methods.*
4. Personal Management.*
5. Home Management.*
6. Communication Systems.*
7. Braille and Other Tactual Systems.*
8. Adaptive Computer Technology.*
9. Recreation and Leisure.*
10. Aging and Vision Loss.*
11. Deaf-Blindness.
12. Teaching and Learning Strategies.
13. Psychosocial Aspects of Blindness and Vision Loss.
14. Individuals who are Blind or Visually Impaired with Additional Disabilities.
15. Research.
16. Orientation and Mobility.

Supporting documentation required (for U.S. and Non-U.S. Candidates):

1. Official transcripts documenting the degree.

2. For the first 10 ACVREP Vision Rehabilitation Therapy specific core domain body of knowledge areas listed above (*), the applicant must demonstrate knowledge through formal education (university/ college coursework) or ACVREP approved CE programs.

Documentation must include:
A) Official transcripts and applicable course descriptions or course syllabi; and/or
B) Certificate of Completion/Attendance and applicable course descriptions or course syllabi.

3. For the last six (6) non-ACVREP Vision Rehabilitation Therapy specific core domain body of knowledge areas listed above (#11-#16), the applicant must demonstrate knowledge through formal education, ACVREP approved CE programs or other activities.

Documentation must include:
A) Official transcripts and applicable course descriptions or course syllabi; or
B) Certificates of completion/attendance and applicable course descriptions or course syllabi; or
C) Continuing education (CE) hour or continuing education unit (CEU) information, to include certificates of completion/attendance and conference/workshop/ in-service training agendas and applicable handouts.

4. For the above 16 core domain body of knowledge areas, the applicant must also complete the Core Domain Body of Knowledge Areas Form (Category 2 applicants only - see Appendix B in the CVRT Eligibility Application)

5. If you need to take a university college course to meet one or more of the 16 core domain body of knowledge areas (see Appendix D in the CVRT Eligibility Application).

For All Applicants

· Successful completion of at least 1,000 hours of "discipline specific, supervised practice that includes, but is not limited to, direct service hours, and related phone calls, meetings, observations, report writing, etc." The practice must be supervised by a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT). The practice can be supervised by an onsite or offsite CVRT. The internship must include the provision of a variety of direct services to adults with vision impairments or blindness.

Supporting documentation required:

1. Clinical Competency Evaluation Form completed and signed by the CVRT practice supervisor (see Appendix A in the CVRT Eligibility Application).

Please note: Applicants completing multiple internships in order to meet the minimum hour or competency requirements, must submit a Clinical Competency Evaluation Form for all internships completed, signed by the CVRT supervisor(s).

2. If the CVRT practice supervisor is offsite, an Off-Site Supervisor Contract must also be completed, signed by the practice supervisor and applicant, and approved by the ACVREP office prior to the practice taking place (see Appendix C in the CVRT Eligibility Application).

· Sign the Statement of Endorsement agreeing to uphold high ethical and professional standards and the Statement of Integrity (see CVRT Eligibility Application).

Eligibility for ACVREP CVRT® certification:

· Pass the ACVREP Vision Rehabilitation Therapy Certification Examination demonstrating knowledge of vision rehabilitation therapy principles and applications.

· Approval by the ACVREP Board of Directors.