Dear John McMahon, Maureen Duffy and Fellow VRT Listers: I like to compare my profession to occupational and physical therapists, except that I specialize in working with the visually impaired. I believe that many individuals that lack a degree from an accredited university VRT, O & M, or Low Vision program will be less knowledgeable, have learning gaps, lower the quality of services provided to our clients and hold us back from earning better salaries as professionals. If you compare the requirements to become licensed as an occupational or physical therapist, you will see that both demand a degree from a university accredited OT or PT educational program. If we do not require more vigorous standards, then how can we command similar salaries? Take a look at the median annual earnings of OT/PT professionals that I have obtained from the Occupational Outlook 2008/2009. These professionals are making $60,000+ per year (median annual earnings). Unfortunately, many of us are paid by state agencies or private, non-profit agencies that receive limited funding. I have always hoped that we would find our way into the private sector to billing insurance companies, Medicare, workman’s compensation carriers, etc. Improving the earnings of professionals will attract more individuals to a career in the field of blind rehabilitation. Licensing Requirements in Occupational and Physical Therapy Disciplines: Occupational Therapy: To obtain an occupational therapy license you will need to Graduate from an accredited OT or OTA educational program. Complete your fieldwork requirements. Apply for and Pass the NBCOT® Certification Examination. For additional information regarding the examination, including ordering Score Transfers and/or State Confirmation Notices, refer to the NBCOT Web site. Apply for a license and pay a fee for each state/jurisdiction in which you wish to practice or hold a license. http://www.aota.org/Practitioners/Licensure/HowTo.aspx Physical Therapy: To obtain a physical therapy license you will need to All PTs must receive a graduate degree from an accredited physical therapist program before taking the national licensure examination that allows them to practice. The majority of programs offer the doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree. http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Physical_Therapy&CONTENTID=33205&TEMPLATE=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm Occupational Therapist Earnings: Median annual earnings of occupational therapists were $60,470 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $50,450 and $73,710. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $40,840, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $89,450. Occupational Outlook 2008/2009, http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos078.htm#training Physical Therapist Earnings: Median annual earnings of physical therapists were $66,200 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $55,030 and $78,080. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $46,510, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $94,810. Occupational Outlook 2008/2009, http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos080.htm Genie Salzverg, MA, VRT, CRC, CDMSC --- On Wed, 1/28/09, John McMahon <john.m.mcmahon@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: From: John McMahon <john.m.mcmahon@xxxxxxxxx> Subject: [visionrehabtherapist] Re: What do you think about the new ACVREP Certification requiremetns? To: Maduffy@xxxxxxx, visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 7:10 AM Greetings Maureen and Fellow VRT Listers: John Mc Mahon here. I have been a practicing VRT professional for 23+ years, and am currently the Chair of the VRT Division. I've intentionally stayed out of the debate regarding the proposed changes to ACVREP certification up to this point, but now feel compelled to dive into the debate. First of all, let me say that my perspective is mine as a professional VRT, and does not represent the view of the VRT Division Board of Directors. I believe the proposed changes to ACVREP certification are a tremendous mistake. It takes us in a direction of further diluting the blindness professions from something more specialized to something much more general in nature. This is evidenced, in my opinion, by the use of provisional tracks for CVRT and CLVT that have been available for the past few years. While these more easily obtainable standards for VRT certification may well have brought more individuals into our field, the gaps in the knowledge base of many of these folks exist, and are evident in the services being provided. Not pushing for specialized university training in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy for persons entering our field is the difference between our profession being one of teaching concepts and skills, versus becoming one of demonstrating techniques and devices. It almost feels like we're on our way back to being more like "home teachers" rather than highly skilled Vision Rehabilitation Therapists. Realizing full well that our profession, in all probability, will continue to provide a provisional track for certification, might I suggest that the exam for certification become more rigorous. I do believe the exam has recently been revised, and maybe a more rigorous exam is already on the way. I believe the way to attract more persons into the field of Vision Rehabilitation Therapy is not to lower our standards and make it easier to get in, but rather to increase our standards to the level we believe is needed to achieve the level of professional excellence we desire. The recent effort by the VA to attract blindness professionals has set the bar higher for competing for current VRT's. It also should be used as a golden opportunity for our profession to attract more folks into our profession. That, combined with the variety of university programs now available to graduate students, may make it easier than ever to recruit new professionals. From information provided recently by the VRT Recruitment Committee, we know the most effective recruiting method in recent years is that of conversations between currently practicing VRT's and their friends or colleagues. If every certified VRT will make this type of recruitment a priority each and every year, we can attract the numbers of persons we need to enter university programs, and then join our profession. Who better to profess the value and rewards of being a professional VRT than us? At any rate, that's my two cents worth. Thank you, Maureen, for getting this conversation rolling. Be well. John Mc Mahon, CVRT, CLVT >>> <Maduffy@xxxxxxx> 1/14/2009 5:37 PM >>> 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@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (mailto: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). **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. 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