[visionrehabtherapist] FW: What do you think about the new ACVREP Certification requiremetns?
- From: "Judy Schermer" <Judy.Schermer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:00:25 -0500
From: Judy Schermer
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 9:16 AM
To: 'Maduffy@xxxxxxx'
Subject: RE: [visionrehabtherapist] What do you think about the new
ACVREP Certification requiremetns?
Hi Maureen,
I also have been closely following the discussion on the provisional
certification. I think some of the problem with VRT is it's history.
Since it was basically home-based, on the job training for it in the
past (prior to the 60's), it is difficult to separate the historical
background of it from the direction we'd like it to go now. The O&M
history is different. However, just because our history was that
doesn't mean we can't adhere to strict requirements for VRT
certification now. I strongly oppose the provisional certification for
VRTs and agree with much of the emails that have been sent over the past
2 weeks. Everyone recognizes and agrees that there is a shortage in the
field. Some of the problem with "marketing" our field is the low pay.
If we lower our standards to allow unqualified people to be certified,
we MAY help it in the short run but we are destroying our
field/profession in the long run. (not to mention the certified VRT,
OM, and LVT who may decide that certification is not necessary/valued if
the provisional track is allowed, and not get certified).
My concern with the provisional certification and the assistant programs
is it puts the stamp of approval on less qualified people to do our
jobs. When you have employers (including directors of vision rehab.
agencies) who do not really know what we do, why would they pay
$30,000-$40,000 (still low) for a university trained, certified VRT when
they can pay $20,000 for someone who has a provisional certification or
was trained as an assistant. This is a real problem currently for our
profession, even though I know that there are some VRTs out there who
are supportive of the assistant program. To be fair, the VRT assistant
is supposed to be working under the direct supervision of a certified
VRT but, from personal experience, I know that this is not how it works
in reality. Unfortunately, many agency directors, for whatever reason,
seem to be ok with hiring these less qualified people with no certified
VRT on staff to supervise.
I don't have the answers and do appreciate the work the other
professionals, AER, and ACVREP are trying to do in order to increase the
number of people in the field. However, lowering our standards will
also lower our credibility and value in the field which in turn will not
increase the pay (through Medicare, etc...) which will affect the number
of potential people going in the universities. It is a vicious cycle
but we need to start somewhere. I don't see lowering our standards is
at all a start, it is a step backwards. Just my humble opinion.
Judy M. Schermer, CVRT
Rehabilitation Services Manager
Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
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From: visionrehabtherapist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:visionrehabtherapist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Maduffy@xxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 5:38 PM
To: visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [visionrehabtherapist] What do you think about the new ACVREP
Certification requiremetns?
Dear VRT Colleagues:
This is Maureen Duffy, writing to you to express my desire for feedback
from my VRT colleagues about the new certification criteria that have
been proposed by ACVREP.
Let me tell you a little bit about myself and why I am writing. I have
been a direct VRT practitioner in New York City, a university graduate
program director for 18 years (the VRT Masters and Certificate Programs
at PCO, now Salus University), the editorial director of VisionAWARE.org
(which has been my vocation for the past two years), and I'm also an
Associate Editor of the Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness
(JVIB). Writing is -- and always has been -- my first love, and writing
about VRT makes it extra-enjoyable.
I've been the Chair of the VRT Division of AER (2000-2002) and I've also
just been elected to the Board of Directors of ACVREP, which will be
announced very soon. I'm telling you all of this so that you'll
understand my commitment to the field, as well as my understanding of
all facets of service delivery.
Recently, ACVREP released a proposed new set of certification guidelines
for VRT, Orientation and Mobility, and Low Vision Therapy. If you go to
the ACVREP web site, you can download these new proposed standards in
several formats. In essence, ACVREP has proposed two tracks: Full
Certification and Provisional Certification.
There has been a great uproar from O&M professionals about these
proposed guidelines. I have been following these responses on the AER
Listserv and most are vehemently NOT in favor of the Provisional Track
as it now stands.
Yet I have seen very few responses from VRTs -- and this troubles me.
What are your thoughts about these new proposed certification standards?
Are you in favor? Are you not in favor? Are there provisions you'd like
to see changed? I don't want this discussion to be co-opted by O&M
professionals. I want our fine profession to state our opinions, too. As
a new ACVREP Board member, I want (and need) to hear from you.
Again, if you go to the ACVREP web site, you can read the new proposed
guidelines. I've also combined several emails that spell out, in great
detail, the steps involved in the new proposed Provisional Certification
guidelines, and you can read those steps at the end of this email, after
my signature line.
Please give me your feedback. Please give me your opinions, both good
and bad, positive and negative. I want our profession to grow and become
stronger. I want us to do this together.
Thanks for listening and I look forward to hearing from you.
Maureen A. Duffy, CVRT
Editorial Director
AWARE (Associates for World Action in Rehabilitation & Education)
Phone: 914-528-5120
E-mail: maureen.duffy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Are you aware of our web site?
www.visionaware.org <http://www.visionaware.org/>
"Self-Help for Vision Loss"
__________________________________________________________________
Full Certification
The requirements for Track I (Full Certification) are based on the
traditional criteria established by ACVREP. To establish eligibility to
sit for the applicable certification examination under Full
Certification, the candidate must have a Bachelors degree (or higher) in
the applicable field of study and successfully completed their
supervised internship experience. In recognizing this education and the
internship experience, the length of term for Full Certification is five
(5) years. In addition, there is no limit for the number of times a Full
Certification candidate can sit for the applicable certification exam.
Also, those who obtain Full Certification do not have to undergo a
review process.
Provisional Certification
1. Earn a Bachelor's degree (in any field of study)
2. Obtain a minimum of 60 hours of discipline-specific training / 2000
hours of discipline-specific experience (within five years of submitting
the Eligibility Application) and currently provide discipline-specific
services.
3. Letter of sponsorship from current employer (to be submitted with the
Eligibility Application).
** CLVT Provisional Certification candidates must also submit a letter
of sponsorship from a physician and must submit and receive a passing
rating on five sample case reports. Rating the of sample case reports
is the responsibility of the CLVT Certification Committee (using a
rubric). Multiple raters are utilized for inter-rater reliability.
4. Submit Eligibility Application to be reviewed. Any questions or
concerns regarding the activities utilized by a Provisional
Certification candidate to demonstrate the minimum 60-hour education
requirement and/or the 2000 hours of experience are referred to the
applicable Certification Committee. The Certification Committee reserves
the right to request further information regarding activities utilized
to demonstrate these requirements. The committee makes the determination
if said activities fulfill the requirements.
5. If the Provisional Certification candidate is found to have met
eligibility requirements, they may then sit for the applicable
certification examination. If they do not pass the examination within
two attempts, they must acquire 10 additional hours of
discipline-specific education/training before they may sit for the
examination again.
6. If the Provisional Certification candidate passes the applicable
exam, he/she will be afforded Provisional Certification (18 month term)
based on approval of the full Board.
7. Prior to the conclusion of the Provisional Certification term, the
Provisional Certificant must undergo a review process. This review
includes the endorsement of the sponsor employer, a performance review
(specific form - aligned with the professional competencies) completed
by the immediate supervisor, acquire an additional minimum of 10
instructional hours of discipline-specific education/training, and have
no reported infractions of the Code of Ethics.
** CLVT Provisional Certificants must also submit a letter of
endorsement from the sponsor physician.
8. If the Provisional Certificant is found to have met all review
process requirements, he or she will be afforded Full Certification
based on approval of the full Board. If a Provisional Certificant is
found to have not met the review process requirements, Full
Certification is not granted and the individual may only reapply for
ACVREP certification under Track I (Full Certification) requiring the
individual to obtain a Bachelors degree (or higher) in the applicable
field and successfully complete a supervised internship.
Provisional Certification Requirements
Track II (Provisional Certification Candidates) must meet the following
requirements to establish eligibility to sit for the applicable ACVREP
certification examination.
* Proof of a Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited
college or university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an
independent credential evaluation company) in any field of study; or
* (Non-U.S. Trained Candidates Only) Proof of a post-secondary
diploma or degree from an accredited college or university.
* Proof of a minimum of 60 instructional hours of
discipline-specific education/training within five (5) years prior to
submitting the ACVREP Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Eligibility
Application.
* Note: One (1) instructional contact hour is awarded for each
hour of learner participation in an organized educational/training
activity.
* Proof of providing vision rehabilitation therapy services in a
professional work setting with a minimum of 2000 hours of vision
rehabilitation therapy experience within (5) years prior to submitting
the ACVREP Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Eligibility Application.
* Sponsorship from current employer to endorse Provisional
Certification candidacy and attest good professional standing within the
organization.
** CLVT candidates for Provisional Certification are also required have
a sponsor physician and must submit five (5) sample case reports and
receive a passing score on said case reports prior to sitting for the
LVT certification examination.
* Provisional Certification candidates must pass the applicable
certification examination prior to being afforded Provisional
Certification. Furthermore, Provisional Certification candidates are
allowed two (2) attempts to pass the applicable certification
examination. If a Provisional Certification candidate does not pass the
applicable certification examination within two (2) attempts, they are
then required to obtain an additional minimum of 10 instructional hours
of discipline-specific education/training before they can sit for the
certification exam again.
* The length of term for Provisional Certification is 18 months.
Prior to the completion of the term, the Provisional Certificant must
undergo a review process. If the Provisional Certificant is found to
have met the requirements set forth in the review process, then he/she
will be afforded Full Certification. If the Provisional Certificant is
found to have not met the requirements of the review process, then
he/she may only reapply for ACVREP certification under Track I (Full
Certification).
________________________________
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