In 2015 the Board of Directors of ACVREP proposed a One Time Alternative Pathway for certification in Orientation and Mobility to allow a path for internationally trained OMS to apply to become COMS.

The public comments received during the 30-day public comment period were in favor of finding a path for international candidates while ensuring that it did not lower the standards that have been valued in the US.  As a result of the comments, the Board suspended any further action on the Alternative Pathway while the issue was studied, first by an international task force and followed by a thorough review and discussion by the COMS SME.  Presentations were made at numerous conferences and a webinar was held discussing possible approaches.  Discussion were also held with NCCA, the organization that accredits certifications.

Following all of this discussion and review the ACVREP Board of Directors has made substantial modifications to the originally proposed Alternative Pathway to address comments, concerns and fresh ideas and has approved a revision of COMS Category 2 as outlined in this announcement. Category 1 Eligibility remains unchanged. 

Effective June 1, 2018 COMS Category 2 Eligibility is revised as follows:

CATEGORY 2

Eligibility to sit for the certifying examination:

Path A: 

Proof of completion of Orientation and Mobility graduate level preparation courses from an accredited university or college that meets the 13 Domain Knowledge areas

Path B: 

Proof of completion of an Orientation and Mobility professional preparation program that is approved by a national government body that approves such professional preparation programs that meets the 13 Domain Knowledge areas

The 13 Domain Knowledge areas are as follows:

1. Know Professional Information
2. Understanding Relevant Medical Information
3. Understand and Apply Learning Theories to O&M
4. Plan and Conduct O&M Assessment
5. Plan O&M Programs
6. Teach O&M Related Concepts
7. Teach Orientation Strategies and Skills
8. Teach Mobility Skills
9. Teach Use of Senses
10. Teach Consumers who have Additional Disabilities
11. Teach Diverse Consumers
12. Analyze and Modify Environment
13. Know the Psychosocial Implications of Blindness and Visual Impairment

Supporting documentation required:

Coursework verification:

Path A.

Official transcripts documenting the completion of the graduate level program of study in Orientation and Mobility meeting the 13 Domain Knowledge Areas including any official transcripts required to be admitted to the graduate level courses

Path B.

Official documentation of the completion of an Orientation and Mobility professional preparation program that is approved by a national government approval body for such professional preparation programs that meets the 13 Domain Knowledge Areas including documentation of the national government approval of the professional preparation program.  

Completion of the O&M Core Domain Area Chart For Both Path A and B:

Demonstrating how each Domain Knowledge Area has been met.(see Appendix B in the COMS Certification Handbook),

 

For Category 1 and for Category 2 Path A Candidates:

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 Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS®).

Supporting documentation required:

1. Clinical Competency Evaluation Form completed and signed by the COMS practice supervisor (see Appendix A in the COMS Certification Handbook). 
   
2. If the COMS practice supervisor is offsite, the "COMS Off-Site Supervision Contract" must also be completed, signed by the off-site COMS supervisor, the onsite O&M supervisor, and COMS applicant, and approved by the ACVREP office prior to the practice taking place (see Appendix E in the COMS Certification Handbook).

 

For Category 2 Path B Candidates; 

EITHER:

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 Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS®).

Supporting documentation required:

1. Clinical Competency Evaluation Form completed and signed by the COMS practice supervisor (see Appendix A in the COMS Certification Handbook). 
   
2. If the COMS practice supervisor is offsite, the "COMS Off-Site Supervision Contract" must also be completed, signed by the off-site COMS supervisor, the onsite O&M supervisor, and COMS applicant, and approved by the ACVREP office prior to the practice taking place (see Appendix E in the COMS Certification Handbook)

OR:

For a limited time until closed by ACVREP: 3,200 direct service hours in Orientation and Mobility in the most recent 3 years.

Supporting documentation required:

1. Employer Verification Form(s) verifying the 3,200 hours of direct service in O&M in the most recent 3 years (see Appendix C in the COMS Certification Handbook)

2. Strong letter of recommendation from the Employer(s) in the most recent 3 years addressing the candidates competency of applied O&M skills in the 13 Domain Knowledge Areas.

For ALL Candidates

Eligibility for ACVREP COMS certification:

1. Pass the COMS Specialist certification exam.
2. Certification is issued upon completion of all requirements.