• Manuals & Downloads
• Certification
  • Commission on Paraoptometric Certification Directory
  • About the Commission on Paraoptometric Certification
    • General Information
    • CPC Receives NCCA Accreditation
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Certification Levels
    • Certified Paraoptometric (CPO)
      • Study Outline
      • CPO Handbook for Candidates - PDF
      • CPO Sample Test Questions
      • Request for Special Needs Accomodations (.pdf)
    • Certified Paraoptometric Assistant (CPOA)
      • Study Outline
      • CPOA Handbook for Candidates - PDF
      • CPOA Sample Test Questions
      • Request for Special Needs Accomodations (.pdf)
    • Certified Paraoptometric Technician (CPOT)
      • Study Outline
      • CPOT Written Handbook for Candidates - PDF
      • CPOT Practical Handbook for Candidates - PDF
      • CPOT Sample Test Questions
      • Request for Special Needs Accomodations (.pdf)
  • Exams & Education
    • Exam Dates and Locations
    • Optometric Assistant/Technician Training Programs
    • Renewal
    • Application to Take an Exam
    • LaserGrade Online Tutorial and Sample Test
  • Tools & Services
    • Year in Review of 2008 Examination Candidates Available
    • Study Resources
    • Call for Testimonials
    • Is your practice 100% certified?
    • Promote Your Credentials
    • Veterans
      • Checklist for Certification Reimbursement for Active Duty or Veterans
      • Checklist for Certification Reimbursement for Eligible Children and Spouses
    • Military
      • Ophthalmic Career Field Education and Training Plan (.pdf)
      • Military Examination Administration Form
      • Application to Take an Exam
  • Certification E-Newsletter Archive
  • Apply for an exam in 2009
• AEP Events
  • EastWest Eye Conference
• Clinical Care
  • Allergan Launches Latisse™ as Treatment for Hypotrichosis
  • Presentation to the FDA Advisory Panel on Contact Lens Solutions
  • Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome (IFIS) Associated with Systemic Alpha-1 Blockers
  • AOA Optometric Clinical Practice Guidelines
  • Quick Reference Guides
  • Clinical Care Publications
  • AOA Diabetes Eye Report form
  • Council on Research
    • Summer Invitational Research Institute
  • Patient Care
    • Geriatrics and Nursing Facility
      • Optometric Care of Nursing Home Residents
      • Eye Care Services in Nursing Facilities
      • Facts about Optometric Nursing Facility Care
      • Instruments and Equipment
      • A Recommended Continuing Education Curriculum: Geriatric Optometry for the Primary Care Practice
    • Hospital Practice
      • Facts about Optometry and Optometric Services in Hospitals (PDF Version)
      • Optometric Services in Hospitals (Position Paper)
      • Hospital Privileges Manual
        • Sample Application Form: Application For Appointment To The Medical/Dental Staff (Word doc)
        • Hospital Privileges Manual: Part II: The Importance of Optometry to the Hospital
        • Hospital Privileges Manual: Part III: Hospital Bylaws and Legal Issues in Hospital Privileging
        • Hospital Privileges Manual: Part IV: How to Obtain Hospital Privileges
        • Hospital Privileges Manual: Part V: The Hospital-Based Optometric Examination
      • American Optometric Association Guidelines for Delineation of Clinical Privileges for Optometry
    • Pediatrics and Binocular Vision
      • Vision: A Collaboration of Eyes and Brain
      • The Need for Comprehensive Vision Examination of Preschool and School-age Children
      • Vision Therapy
        • PDF Version of this Page
        • Optometric Co-Management of Vision Therapy
      • Vision, Learning and Dyslexia
      • The Use of Tinted Lenses and Colored Overlays for the Treatment of Dyslexia and Other Related Reading and Learning Disorders
      • Optometric Care of the Patient with Acquired Brain Injury
    • Primary Care
      • Optometric Clinical Practice Recommendations
  • Environmental / Occupational Issues
    • Occupational Vision Manual Part I: Introduction
      • PDF Version (360.6 KB)
      • Occupational Vision Manual: Part II: Performance and Productivity in the Work Place
      • Occupational Vision Manual: Part III: Ocular Protection
      • Occupational Vision Manual: Part IV: Contact Lens Use In Industry
      • Occupational Vision Manual: Part V: Medico-Legal and Ethical Concerns Regarding Standards and Regulations
      • Occupational Vision Manual: References and Sources for Further Information
    • Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)
      • Computer Vision Syndrome Symptoms
      • The Relationship of Computer Vision Syndrome to Musculoskeletal Disorders
      • Impact of Computer Use on Children's Vision
      • The Effects of Video Display Terminal Use on Eye Health and Vision
      • Criteria for Determining Whether the Need for Eyeglasses or Other Treatment is Related to Computer Use
    • Motorist Vision Policy
    • Recommendations for the Use of Laser Pointers
  • Ophthalmic Standards
  • Commission on Quality Assessment & Improvement
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Aviation Vision
    • Aviation Vision Continuing Education Course
    • Comparison of Bifocal and Progressive Addition Lenses on Aviator Target Detection Performance
    • Eyes, Right
    • LASIK Refractive Surgery: Clinical Considerations for the Pilot
    • Special Ophthalmic Needs of Aviators
    • Sunglasses in Aviation
    • Ultraviolet Radiation: Hazards in Aviation
    • Eye Exams and Aviation: Prescription for Success
    • The Eye and Night Vision
    • Adjusting to New Spectacles the Easy Way
    • Prescribing Spectacles for Aviators
    • AOA Pilot Vision Evaluation
    • FAA Report of Eye Evaluation
    • Ophthalmological Evaluation for Glaucoma
    • Clinical Application of Vision Standards
  • Community Health Centers
    • Community Health Center Optometry
    • Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Community Health Center Optometry
    • The Fundamentals of Community Health Centers
    • UPDATED - A Sketch of Community Health Centers: The NACHC Chart Book
    • Do you Need an Eye Care Service?
    • How to Start an Eye Care Service in a Community Health Center
    • Community Health Center Eye Clinic Capital & Equipment Planner
    • Business Planning Template
    • Opening the Doors to Vision Care Access
    • Memorandum of Understanding with the National Association of Community Health Centers
    • Publications and Research

Allied Eye Professionals

• Application to Join
• AEP Monthly E-Tips
• FAQ

Mission Statement

The mission of AEP is to promote a team centered approach to advocacy so that optometrists and their staff may effectively communicate with patients and the community about the importance of a lifetime of comprehensive eye care.

Benefits

1. Advocacy on behalf of primary eye and vision health
2. Continuing education with emphasis on best practices
3. Regional meetings with timely topics on practice management and advocacy
4. Monthly e-newsletter on current recognized best practices trends, practice management issues, advocacy tips, and other topics
5. Professional networking opportunities

Purpose

1. Advocate for a lifetime of eye care including routine visits to the optometrist
2. Promote the health team concept in the delivery of optometric services
3. Support quality continuing education
4. Promote, advance and enhance the identity of optometric personnel and optometrists
5. Provide a forum for OOA members to discuss the eye care team

Membership

AEP membership is open to those members of the primary eye care team including:

• Licensed Spectacle Dispensing Optician
• Licensed Contact Lens Dispensing Optician
• Licensed Spectacle-Contact Lens Dispensing Optician
• Apprentice Optician
• Licensed Ocularist
• Optometric Photographer
• ABO Certified and NCLE Certified
• JCAHPO Certified - (COA) (COT) (COMT) (Subspecialty)
• AOA Certified (CPO) (CPOA) (CPOT)
• Vision therapists (COVTT)
• Third party billing assistant
• Office administrative staff

OOA members whose staff join AEP receive automatic membership to AEP section with no additional fees.