[visionrehabtherapist] Fw: ACVREP Releases Proposed Policy Revision-VRT
- From: "Shelley L. Rhodes" <guidinggolden@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:02:41 -0400
ANNOUNCEMENT
ACVREP Releases Proposed Policy Revisions
Relative to Certification Eligibility Criteria for Certified Vision
Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT)
October 26, 2009
Request for Public Comment
Comments from ACVREP stakeholders and the general public will be accepted until
November 25, 2009 at 5:00 PM (PST). Please submit all comments regarding this
matter directly to Garett A. Holm at gholm@xxxxxxxxxx or at:
ACVREP
C/o Garett A. Holm
3333 N. Campbell Avenue, Suite 2
Tucson, AZ 85719
According to ACVREP policy, all comments will be reviewed and considered by the
ACVREP Board of Directors prior to taking action on this matter.
Tucson, Arizona. The Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and
Education Professionals (ACVREP) announces the release of proposed revisions to
certification program eligibility criteria for public review and comment.
Proposal policy revisions specifically impact the Certified Vision
Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT) program.
Scope of Proposed Policy Revision
Termination of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation and
Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visional Impaired (AER) Approved University
Program requirement from ACVREP certification criteria (Category 1) for CVRT.
Termination of said requirement will effectively collapse Categories 1 and 2
within the current ACVREP certification eligibility criteria for the CVRT
program.
Termination of Category 3 within the current ACVREP certification eligibility
criteria for the CVRT program.
Reasons for Proposed Policy Revision
After careful review of current ACVREP certification eligibility criteria and
analysis of the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) standards,
ACVREP recognizes the need to be able to defend all certification-related
decisions and the requirements upon which all certification decisions are
based.
In regards to the AER University Approved Program, ACVREP is aware of the fact
that program operations have been inactive for some time and the renewal
process has not been consistently maintained. These operational issues have
resulted in significant delays in both the application and renewal process.
Given ACVREP's responsibility to defend its certification requirements, it is
important that all requirements, including those that are dependent upon
programs managed by an external party, are operated in a manner that
facilitates consistent and accurate results.
In relation to the termination of Category 3 within the current ACVREP
certification eligibility criteria for the CVRT program, industry standards
state, "To avoid conflicts of interest between certification and education
functions, the certification agency must not also be responsible for
accreditation or training programs or courses of study leading to the
certification." While ACVREP CE approval process does not serve as an
accreditation program, decisions do yield a similar result. In essence, ACVREP
does approve CE activities, which are currently utilized by CVRT candidates
applying for certification eligibility under Category 3.
By terminating Category 3, ACVREP effectively places itself in a stronger
position to avoid any real or perceived conflicts of interest and enhances the
reputation of its certification programs.
In relation to the termination of Category 3 within the current ACVREP
certification eligibility criteria for the CVRT program, industry standards
state, "To avoid conflicts of interest between certification and education
functions, the certification agency must not also be responsible for
accreditation or training programs or courses of study leading to the
certification." While ACVREP CE approval process does not serve as an
accreditation program, decisions do yield a similar result. In essence, ACVREP
does approve CE activities, which are currently utilized by CVRT candidates
applying for certification eligibility under Category 3.
By terminating Category 3, ACVREP effectively places itself in a stronger
position to avoid any real or perceived conflicts of interest and enhances the
reputation of its certification programs.
ACVREP is committed to promoting high standards for certification in the vision
rehabilitation and education services field and this proposed action should not
be interpreted as a means to lower the standards.
Impact of Proposed Revisions
The proposed policy revision does not eliminate the requirement of a minimum of
a Bachelors degree from an accredited university or college, with
specialization in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) for ACVREP certification
eligibility.
The proposed policy revision eliminates the use of the AER Approved University
Program as an ACVREP certification eligibility requirement (Category 1) for
CVRT.
The proposed policy revision language, if adopted by the ACVREP Board of
Directors, does not serve to deter or limit a university program's ability to
seek and obtain AER university program approval.
With the termination of Category 3 within the current ACVREP certification
eligibility criteria for the CVRT program, ACVREP will no longer recognize the
use of ACVREP approved continuing education (CE) activities to fulfill
requirements for initial certification. Thus, only coursework from accredited
universities and colleges will be used to fulfill certification eligibility
requirements.
Proposed Policy Language
Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT)
Category 1
Eligibility to sit for the certifying examination:
Proof of a minimum of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or
university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent
credential evaluation company), with a specialization in Vision Rehabilitation
Therapy (VRT). The program of study must provide academic coursework in the
following sixteen (16) core domain areas:
1. Knowledge of the Blindness System
2. Medical Aspects of Blindness and Low Vision
3. Professionalism and Practice Methods
4. Personal Management
5. Home Management
6. Communication Systems
7. Braille and Other Tactual Systems
8. Adaptive Computer Technology
9. Recreation and Leisure
10. Aging and Vision Loss
11. Deaf-Blindness
12. Teaching and Learning Strategies
13. Psychosocial Aspects of Blindness and Vision Loss
14. Individuals who are Blind or Visually Impaired with
Additional Disabilities
15. Research
16. Orientation and Mobility
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 CVRT.
Required Documentation:
Completed "CVRT Certification Eligibility Application".
Transcripts (official or unofficial) documenting the degree earned by the
candidate or evidence that the candidate meets ACVREP University Student
Program requirements (please see the "CVRT Certification Handbook").
"Clinical Competency Evaluation Form" (see Appendix A located in the "CVRT
Certification Eligibility Application") completed by the CVRT supervisor.
Candidates applying for eligibility under the ACVREP University Student Program
may take the exam prior to completing the supervised internship. In such
circumstances, the candidate does not have to submit the "Clinical Competency
Evaluation Form" in order to sit for the CVRT Certification Exam.
"CVRT Core Domain Area Chart" (see Appendix B located in the "CVRT
Certification Eligibility Application") demonstrating alignment between
academic coursework and the required core domain areas.
Sign a written statement agreeing to uphold high ethical and professional
standards (this statement is located in the "CVRT Certification Eligibility
Application").
Please note: Candidates completing multiple internships in order to meet the
minimum hour or competency requirements, must submit the "Clinical Competency
Evaluation Form" for each internship completed. Each "Clinical Competency
Evaluation Form" submitted to ACVREP must be completed by the applicable CVRT
supervisor.
Eligibility for CVRT Certification:
Pass the CVRT Certification Exam demonstrating knowledge of VRT principles and
applications.
Completed "CVRT Certification Application"
Official transcripts documenting the degree earned by the candidate.
"Clinical Competency Evaluation Form" completed by the CVRT supervisor.
Approval by the ACVREP Board of Directors.
Category 2
Eligibility to sit for the certifying examination:
Proof of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (or
foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credential evaluation
company) in any field of study and proof of completion of a Vision
Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) certification preparation program from an
accredited university or college. The program of study must provide academic
coursework in the following sixteen (16) core domain areas:
1. Knowledge of the Blindness System
2. Medical Aspects of Blindness and Low Vision
3. Professionalism and Practice Methods
4. Personal Management
5. Home Management
6. Communication Systems
7. Braille and Other Tactual Systems
8. Adaptive Computer Technology
9. Recreation and Leisure
10. Aging and Vision Loss
11. Deaf-Blindness
12. Teaching and Learning Strategies
13. Psychosocial Aspects of Blindness and Vision Loss
14. Individuals who are Blind or Visually Impaired with
Additional Disabilities
15. Research
16. Orientation and Mobility
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 CVRT.
Required Documentation:
Transcripts (official or unofficial) documenting the degree earned by the
candidate or evidence that the candidate meets ACVREP University Student
Program requirements (please see the "CVRT Certification Handbook").
"Clinical Competency Evaluation Form" (see Appendix A located in the "CVRT
Certification Eligibility Application") completed by the CVRT supervisor.
Candidates applying for eligibility under the ACVREP University Student Program
may take the exam prior to completing the supervised internship. In such
circumstances, the candidate does not have to submit the "Clinical Competency
Form" in order to sit for the CVRT Certification Exam.
"VRT Core Domain Area Chart" (see Appendix B located in the "CVRT
Certification Eligibility Application") demonstrating alignment between
academic coursework and the required core domain areas.
Sign a written statement agreeing to uphold high ethical and professional
standards (this statement is located in the "CVRT Eligibility Application").
Please note: Candidates completing multiple internships in order to meet the
minimum hour or competency requirements, must submit the "Clinical Competency
Evaluation Form" for each internship completed. Each "Clinical Competency
Evaluation Form" submitted to ACVREP must be completed by the applicable CVRT
supervisor.
Eligibility for CVRT Certification:
Complete "CVRT Certification Application"
Pass the CVRT Certification Exam demonstrating knowledge of VRT principles and
applications.
Official transcripts documenting the degree earned by the candidate.
"Clinical Competency Evaluation Form" completed by the CVRT supervisor.
Approval by the ACVREP Board of Directors.
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