Staff Training & Support

The AOA offers many more resources for optometric staff than just continuing education. View our tools to promote your credentials or for Spanish language resources. Brochures, support and networking opportunities are right at your fingertips. Look through our complete benefits package. To access all of our benefits, staff must be enrolled as AOA Associate members.  It's free!

Please search the website and if you don't find what you are looking for, call us at 800.365.2219, ext. 4108 to request additional information.

Paraoptometric certification is a program developed by a respected panel of American Optometric Association (AOA) paraoptometrics and doctors of optometry, created to encourage continuing education and knowledge as the field of optometric assisting grows.

The AOA offers four levels of certification for optometric staff. Each program requires successful completion of an examination prepared and administered by the Commission on Paraoptometric Certification (CPC) with the assistance of Professional Testing Corporation. The purpose of the examinations is to assure a level of knowledge to perform the functions necessary to each certified designation. Recipients must renew their certification every three years to remain current in their field.

The CPOTM, CPOATM and CPOTTM examinations are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The NCCA accreditation serves as a benchmark on how organizations should conduct certification and clearly distinguishes the excellence and value of CPC certification. The CPC is a member of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, an organization that provides education, networking and other resources for professionals.

• Apply

• Exam Schedule

• Maintain Your Certification

• 2020 Handbook

• CPO Attestation Statement

• Frequently Asked Questions