ACVREP's Recertification Policy and Procedures

CERTIFIED LOW VISION THERAPISTS (CLVT®)

CERTIFIED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS (COMS®)

CERTIFIED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS (CVRT®)

CERTIFIED ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY INSTRUCTIONAL SPECIALIST (CATIS®)

CERTIFIED DEAFBLIND INTERVENOR SPECIALIST (CDBIS®)


ACVREP certificants have the option of retaking the ACVREP certification exam(s) to recertify in lieu of recertifying by points.

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

The ACVREP recertification program encourages certificants to pursue professional activities in order to achieve the following goals:
  • 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 promotes professional competence. 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 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 cycle of certification. The recertification points and documentation may now be tracked through the online My Recertification Tracker. As each activity is completed you should log into your online account, click on your Tracker link, list the activity just completed and upload the supporting documentation into your Tracker.

It is also the certificant's responsibility to submit online the recertification application before the end of the recertification cycle that is 5 years for CLVT, COMS and CVRT; 4 years for CDBIS and 2 years for CATIS. The recertification application and the recertification fee can be completed by logging into your My ACVREP account.

See the Recertification Point Calculator that applies to your certification for your required points and how to earn them

  • Early applications for recertification may be accepted and reviewed only within six months prior to the recertification expiration date. However, early applications for recertification will be issued the expiration date of the quarter in which the application was initially approved.
  • The online submission of the application for Recertification is due by 11:59 PM Eastern time on the first day of the month in which your certification expires, for example, March 1 for a March 31 expiry. Any application received later than this time will be assessed a Late Fee in the amount identified on the fee schedule.

Reinstatement of Certification Policy

Candidates initially granted certification, but who have not made application for recertification and have allowed their recertification to Expire, may recertify by points within one calendar year, ("Grace Period"), following the certification expiration date if they meet the recertification requirements and pay the Recertification Fee and the Late Fee that are applicable at the time they apply for recertification. If they do not recertify the Grace Period, their certification will Lapse and be considered inactive. 

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 may only recertify by taking the certification exam. If a certification has been lapsed for 10 years or longer, a candidate must reapply for certification completely including all certification steps.

It is solely the responsibility of the certificant to know his/her certification expiration date and to recertify on time. ACVREP will, as a courtesy to certificants, send 3 and 6 month email reminders of certification expiry dates.It is the responsibility of the certificant to keep his/her email address up to date in his/her online account. 

Refer to the ACVREP website for a current Directory of Certificants.

Approved Continuing Education 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: 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.
  5. Professional Information: sources of professional literature and new information related to practice in your area of certification, evolving practice developments, legislation, public policy, research findings, current issues, and trends and public policy that affect the quality of life for consumers.
  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 and Hearing Loss: normal age-related changes in vision and hearing and visual and hearing 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 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.
  14. Assitive Technology for Individuals who are Blind or Low Vision:
  15. For CDBIS recertification in addition to the categories above, education in all Body of Knowledge and Applied Competency areas of the CDBIS certification.