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Listed below are the eligibility
criteria for each of ACVREP's three disciplines [Low Vision Therapy, Orientation
and Mobility, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy (formerly Rehabilitation Teaching].
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. Click
on the "Downloads" button on our main menu. 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.
ACVREP ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
– EFFECTIVE 7/1/03
LOW
VISION THERAPY
CATEGORY 1 (GRADUATES OF LOW VISION PROGRAMS):
Eligibility to sit for the certifying
examination:
- Proof of a minimum of a Bachelor’s
degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as
verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization
(major/degree) in low vision therapy. This degree should be granted from a
university or college with a program of study in low vision that meets the
low vision therapy core domain areas (see Appendix A).
Supporting documentation
required: Official transcripts documenting the degree.
- In conjunction with the university,
successful completion of 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 CLVT and a physician (OD or MD) practicing in low
vision. The CLVT supervisor may be offsite.
Supporting documentation required:
-
A “Clinical Competency
Evaluation Form” must be completed by both the CLVT and OD/MD
(see Appendix B). Please note: For applicants completing more than
one internship, to meet the minimum hour or competency requirements, please
submit “Clinical Competency Evaluation Forms” for each
internship, as completed by the CLVT and OD/MD supervisors.
- If the CLVT 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).
- Sign a written statement agreeing
to uphold high ethical and professional standards (this statement can be found
on the second page of the LVT eligibility application).
Eligibility for LVT certification:
- Pass the LVT written exam demonstrating
knowledge of low vision principles and applications.
- Approval by the ACVREP Board
of Directors.
CATEGORY 2 (GENERAL):
Eligibility to sit for the certifying
examination:
- Proof of a minimum of a Bachelor’s
degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as
verified through an independent credential evaluation company) in any field.
In addition, the CLVT supervisor must verify that the applicant demonstrates
basic competency in all core domain areas.
Supporting
documentation required:
- Official transcripts documenting
the degree.
- The Core Domain Area Checklist
verifying basic competency in all core domain areas must be completed by the
CLVT supervisor and submitted with your eligibility application (see Appendix
D).
- Have completed 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 CLVT and
a physician (OD or MD) practicing in low vision. The CLVT supervisor may be
offsite.
Supporting documentation required:
-
A “Clinical Competency
Evaluation Form”must be completed by the CLVT and OD/MD
(see Appendix B). Please note: For applicants completing more than
one internship, to meet the minimum hour or competency requirements, please
submit “Clinical Competency Evaluation Forms” for each
internship, as completed by the CLVT and OD/MD supervisors.
- If the CLVT 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).
- Sign a written statement agreeing
to uphold high ethical and professional standards (this statement can be found
on the second page of the LVT eligibility application).
Eligibility for LVT certification:
- Pass the LVT written exam demonstrating
knowledge of low vision principles and their applications.
- Approval by the ACVREP Board
of Directors.
CATEGORY 3 (EXPEDITED TRACK)
– CAN ONLY APPLY UNDER THIS
CATEGORY THROUGH JUNE 30, 2009.
Eligibility to sit for the certifying
examination:
- Proof of a minimum of a Bachelor’s
degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as
verified through an independent credential evaluation company) in any field.
- Proof of being a practicing
low vision therapist with a minimum of 2000 hours low vision experience for
at least five (5) years prior to application.
- Proof that the applicant demonstrates
basic competency in all core domain areas.
- Submission and approval of 10
case reports.
Supporting
documentation required:
- Official transcripts documenting
the degree,
- The “Employer Verification
of Hours” letter (see Appendix E),
- The Core Domain Area Checklist
verifying basic competency in all core domain areas, which must be completed
by the CLVT supervisor and submitted with your eligibility application (see
Appendix D), and
- Ten (10) case reports (see
Appendix F).
- Have undergone sufficient observation
by the CLVT and/or OD/MD to substitute for the 350 hour “discipline
specific, supervised practice that includes, but is not limited to, direct
service hours, and related phone calls, meetings, observations, report writing,
etc.”
Supporting documentation required:
The “Clinical Competency Evaluation Form” (see Appendix
B). This form must be completed by the CLVT and OD/MD.
- Sign a written statement agreeing
to uphold high ethical and professional standards (this statement can be found
on the second page of the LVT eligibility application).
Eligibility for LVT certification:
- Pass the LVT written exam demonstrating
knowledge of low vision principles and applications.
- Approval by the ACVREP Board
of Directors.
ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY
Category 1:
Eligibility to sit for the certifying
examination:
- Proof of a minimum of a Bachelor’s
degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as
verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization
in Orientation and Mobility (O&M), from an AER approved university or
college O&M program at the time the degree or program of study was granted
or completed.
Supporting documentation required:
Official transcripts documenting the degree.
- In conjunction with the university
program, successful completion of 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 an onsite COMS.
Supporting documentation required:
Submit a “Clinical Competency Evaluation Form” (see Appendix
A) completed by the on-site COMS supervisor. Please note: For applicants
completing more than one internship, to meet the minimum hour or competency
requirements, please submit “Clinical Competency Evaluation Forms”
for each internship, as completed by the on-site COMS supervisors.
- Sign a written statement agreeing
to uphold high ethical and professional standards (this statement can be found
on the second page of the eligibility application).
Eligibility for O&M certification:
- Pass the O&M written exam
demonstrating knowledge of O&M principles and applications.
- Approval by the ACVREP Board
of Directors.
Category 2:
Eligibility to sit for the certifying
examination:
- Proof of a minimum of a Bachelor’s
degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as
verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization
in O&M, from a university or college program of study in O&M that
meets the following thirteen (13) core domain areas (also see “Section
3 – O&M Body of Knowledge” in the Orientation and Mobility
Certification Handbook):
- Know Professional Information
- Understanding Relevant Medical
Information
- Understand and Apply Learning
Theories to O&M
- Plan and Conduct O&M Assessment
- Plan O&M Programs
- Teach O&M Related Concepts
- Teach Orientation Strategies
and Skills
- Teach Mobility Skills
- Teach Use of Senses
- Teach Consumers who have Additional
Disabilities
- Teach Diverse Consumers
- Analyze and Modify Environment
- Know the Psychosocial Implications
of Blindness and Visual Impairment
Supporting documentation required:
Official transcripts documenting the
degree; completion of the “O&M
Core Domain Area Chart” (see Appendix B), demonstrating where each
core domain area has been met in the applicant’s coursework (include course
numbers and titles); and course catalog descriptions or course syllabi.
Please note: The applicant
may meet a maximum of two of the 13 academic domains through alternative learning
activities (e.g., continuing education courses).
Supporting documentation required:
“O&M Alternative Learning Pre-Approval Form” (see Appendix
C). The applicant needs to complete this form and submit it with his/her eligibility
application.
- In conjunction with the university
program, successful completion of 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 an onsite COMS.
Supporting documentation required:
Submit a “Clinical Competency Evaluation Form” (see Appendix
A) completed by the on-site COMS supervisor. Please note: For applicants
completing more than one internship, to meet the minimum hour or competency
requirements, please submit “Clinical Competency Evaluation Forms”
for each internship, as completed by the on-site COMS supervisors.
- Sign a written statement agreeing
to uphold high ethical and professional standards (this statement can be found
on the second page of the eligibility application).
Eligibility for O&M certification:
- Pass the O&M written exam
demonstrating knowledge of O&M principles and applications.
- Approval by the ACVREP Board
of Directors.
Category 3:
Eligibility to sit for the certifying
examination:
- Proof of a Bachelor’s
degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as
verified through an independent credential evaluation company) in any field
of study and proof of completion of an orientation and mobility certification
preparation program from a university or college that meets the following
thirteen (13) core domain areas (also see “Section 3 – O&M
Body of Knowledge” in the Orientation and Mobility Certification Handbook):
- Know Professional Information
- Understanding Relevant Medical
Information
- Understand and Apply Learning
Theories to O&M
- Plan and Conduct O&M Assessment
- Plan O&M Programs
- Teach O&M Related Concepts
- Teach Orientation Strategies
and Skills
- Teach Mobility Skills
- Teach Use of Senses
- Teach Consumers who have Additional
Disabilities
- Teach Diverse Consumers
- Analyze and Modify Environment
- Know the Psychosocial Implications
of Blindness and Visual Impairment
Supporting documentation required:
Official transcripts documenting the degree and showing completion of the orientation
and mobility certification preparation program; completion of the “O&M
Core Domain Area Chart” (see Appendix B), demonstrating where each
core domain area has been met in their coursework (include course numbers and
titles); and course catalog descriptions or course syllabi.
Please note: The applicant
may meet a maximum of two of the 13 core domain areas through alternative learning
activities (e.g., continuing education courses).
Supporting documentation required:
“O&M Alternative Learning Pre-Approval Form” (see Appendix
C). The applicant needs to complete this form and submit it with his/her eligibility
application.
- In conjunction with the university
program, successful completion of 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 an onsite COMS.
Supporting documentation required:
Submit a “Clinical Competency Evaluation Form” (see Appendix
A) completed by the on-site COMS supervisor. Please note: For applicants
completing more than one internship, to meet the minimum hour or competency
requirements, please submit “Clinical Competency Evaluation Forms”
for each internship, as completed by the on-site COMS supervisors.
- Sign a written statement agreeing
to uphold high ethical and professional standards (this statement can be found
on the second page of the eligibility application).
Eligibility for O&M certification:
- Pass the O&M written exam
demonstrating knowledge of O&M principles and applications.
- Approval by the ACVREP Board
of Directors.
VISION
REHABILITATION THERAPY (FORMERLY REHABILITATION TEACHING
Category 1:
Eligibility to sit for the certifying
exam:
- Proof of a minimum of a Bachelor’s
degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as
verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization
in the area of Vision Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT), from an AER approved
VRT program at the time the degree was granted. If you are unsure of the status
of your school’s program when your degree was granted, contact your
university program coordinator.
Supporting documentation required:
Official transcripts documenting the degree.
- In conjunction with the university
program, successful completion of at least 350 hours of “discipline
specific, supervised internship that includes, but is not limited to, direct
service hours, related phone calls, meetings, observations, report writing,
etc.” The internship must include the provision of a variety of direct
services to adults with vision impairments or blindness. The internship must
be supervised by a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT) who can
be offsite, if necessary.
Supporting documentation required:
Submit a “Clinical Competency Evaluation Form” completed
by your CVRT internship supervisor (see Appendix A). Please note: For
applicants completing more than one internship, to meet the minimum hour or
competency requirements, please submit “Clinical Competency Evaluation
Forms” for each internship, as completed by the CVRT supervisors.
If the CVRT internship supervisor is offsite, an “Off-Site Supervisor
Contract” must also be completed, signed by the internship supervisor
and applicant, and approved by the ACVREP office PRIOR to the internship taking
place (see Appendix D).
- Sign a written “Statement
of Endorsement” agreeing to uphold high ethical and professional standards
(this statement can be found on the second page of the eligibility application).
Eligibility for VRT certification:
- Pass the VRT written exam demonstrating
knowledge of VRT principles and applications.
- Approval by the ACVREP Board
of Directors.
Category 2:
Eligibility to sit for the certifying
exam:
- Proof of a minimum of a Bachelor’s
degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as
verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization
in the area of VRT. This degree should be granted from a university or college
with a program of study in VRT that meets the following sixteen (16) core
domain areas:
The core curriculum must meet all
of the 16 core domain body of knowledge areas listed below:
- Knowledge of the Blindness System.
- Medical Aspects of Blindness
and Low Vision.
- Professionalism and Practice
Methods.
- Personal Management.
- Home Management.
- Communication Systems.
- Braille and Other Tactual Systems.
- Adaptive Computer Technology.
- Recreation and Leisure.
- Aging and Vision Loss.
- Deaf-Blindness.
- Teaching and Learning Strategies.
- Psychosocial Aspects of Blindness
and Vision Loss.
- Individuals who are Blind or
Visually Impaired with Additional Disabilities.
- Research.
- Orientation and Mobility.
Supporting documentation required:
Official transcripts documenting the degree. Also, to demonstrate knowledge
of the 16 core domain body of knowledge areas, the applicant must complete the
“Core Domain Area Checklist for Category 2 Applicants” (see
Appendix B) andprovide written documentation that s/he has received education
in these areas. Examples of documentation include course descriptions or course
syllabi, certificates of completion, continuing education (CE) hour information,
continuing education unit (CEU) information, etc.
- In conjunction with the university
program, 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:
Submit a “Clinical Competency Evaluation Form” completed
by the CVRT internship supervisor (see Appendix A). Please note: For
applicants completing more than one internship, to meet the minimum hour or
competency requirements, please submit “Clinical Competency Evaluation
Forms” for each internship, as completed by the CVRT supervisors.
If the CVRT internship supervisor is offsite, an “Off-Site Supervisor
Contract” must also be completed, signed by the internship supervisor
and applicant, and approved by the ACVREP office PRIOR to the practice taking
place (see Appendix D).
- Sign a written “Statement
of Endorsement” agreeing to uphold high ethical and professional standards
(this statement can be found on the second page of the eligibility application).
Eligibility for VRT certification:
- Pass the VRT written exam demonstrating
knowledge of VRT principles and applications.
- Approval by the ACVREP Board
of Directors.
Category 3:
Eligibility to sit for the certifying
exam:
- Proof of a minimum of a Bachelor’s
degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as
verified through an independent credential evaluation company) in any field.
Also, must demonstrate knowledge in the following sixteen (16) core domain
areas (see Appendix C):
- Knowledge of the Blindness System*
- Medical Aspects of Blindness
and Low Vision*
- Professionalism and Practice
Methods*
- Personal Management*
- Home Management*
- Communication Systems*
- Braille and Other Tactual Systems*
- Adaptive Computer Technology*
- Recreation and Leisure*
- Aging and Vision Loss*
- Deaf-Blindness
- Teaching and Learning Strategies
- Psychosocial Aspects of Blindness
and Vision Loss
- Individuals who are Blind or
Visually Impaired with Additional Disabilities
- Research
- Orientation and Mobility
Supporting documentation
required:
- Official transcripts documenting
the degree.
- For the first 10 VRT 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.
- For the last six non-VRT
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.
- For the above 16 core
domain body of knowledge areas, the applicant must also complete Appendix
C (“VRT Core Domain Body of Knowledge Areas”).
- If you need to take a
university or college course to meet one or more of the 16 core domain body
of knowledge areas, we have provided information in “University
Programs for Vision Rehabilitation Therapists” to assist you in
selecting relevant coursework (see Appendix E).
- Successful completion of at least
1,000 hours of “discipline specific, supervised internship that
includes, but is not limited to, direct service hours, related phone calls,
meetings, observations, report writing, etc.” The internship must
include the provision of a variety of direct services to adults with vision
impairments or blindness. The internship must be supervised by a Certified
Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT) who can be offsite, if necessary.
Supporting documentation
required: Submit a “Clinical Competency Evaluation Form”
completed by the CVRT internship supervisor (see Appendix A). Please
note: For applicants completing more than one internship, to meet
the minimum hour or competency requirements, please submit “Clinical
Competency Evaluation Forms” for each internship, as completed by
the CVRT supervisors. If the CVRT internship supervisor is offsite, an
“Off-Site Supervisor Contract” must also be completed,
signed by the internship supervisor and applicant, and approved by the ACVREP
office prior to the internship taking place (see Appendix D).
- Sign a written “Statement
of Endorsement” agreeing to uphold high ethical and professional standards
(this statement can be found on the second page of the eligibility application).
Eligibility for VRT certification:
- Pass the VRT written exam demonstrating
knowledge of VRT principles and applications.
- Approval by the ACVREP Board of
Directors.
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