Tamara Franklin, CPOT, shares why AOA should be your starting point for paraoptometric certification exam prep materials

Speaker: Tamara Franklin, CPOT, CPC Member

Tamara Franklin, CPOT: One of the first steps to preparing for a CPC certification exam should be going to the AOA website, AOA.org, and reviewing the Candidate Handbook. Also downloading the outline for the certification exam that you're taking. This will allow you to see the content that will be on the certification exam. There are a number of resources out there for you to study that content from. The AOA has resources that are available to members at no charge in EyeLearn. They're also available to any person studying for the examination. You have, you have resources within your practice, but having the outline from AOA.org will tell you what to study, and then you can use all kinds of resources at your disposal to study that content. The Candidate Handbook will give you all of the information you need for that CPC certification exam.

Tamara Franklin, CPOT: It is important to reference the latest AOA study resources that align with the CPC examination outlines. With the new addition of the certification exams, the study resources have been updated as well as the expanded outlines that you can find on AOA.org. The expanded outlines will give you the reference for the material that you need to study for the examination. All of the AOA study resources are up to date for the current examinations.

Tamara Franklin, CPOT: We encourage all staff to pursue certification. The national certification examinations deliver a level of expectation within our profession to delivering a greater patient care. Certification for a staff person demonstrates that level of care and knowledge across all areas within the practice. A staff person that has certification is known to have already been tested and demonstrated a higher level of knowledge and competency to deliver better patient care within the practice. Speaking of the benefits of practices, practices that employ certified staff have a patient perception out there that they're delivering a greater differential against some of the other markets in their area. Practices that have certified staff have a greater efficiency. You can see, based on some studies that have been done, about 12 additional patients per week by delegating some of those non-physician duties to well-trained certified staff. There's no one better than a certified staff person to elevate the patient care and the practice efficiencies. In having that certification and that knowledge base, we really encourage all staff to have some level of certification. The AOA Commission on Paraoptometric Certification offers three levels of certification: a CPO, Certified Paraoptometric; a CPOA, Certified Paraoptometric Assistant; and a CPOT, Certified Paraoptometric Technician. By starting with a CPO designation, a person can take that entry level certification and then progress through their career. You are investing in your career as a paraoptometric. Certification demonstrates your level of competency. We encourage all to be certified.