Certified Ophthalmic Assistant Certification (COA)
To qualify for certification at the COA level, you must meet one of the following three options:
Eligibility Pathway Required Education
COA – A11
COA – A2
COA – A3
Required Work Experience
Under the Supervision
of Ophthalmologist
COA-OMP or CMA2 accredited clinical training program at the Assistant level3
♦ I f you completed the program more than 12 months ago, you will need to
submit 18 JCAHPO Group A credits for each year following graduation.
COA-OMP or CMA2 accredited non-clinical training program at the
Assistant level3
♦ If you completed the program more than 12 months ago, you will need to
submit 18 JCAHPO Group A credits for each year following graduation.
Graduated from high school or the equivalent
and
Approved Independent Study Course such as the JCAT course or AAO
Ophthalmic Medical Assisting course with Work Experience
♦ If you completed the course more than 36 months ago, you will need to
repeat the course or submit 18 Group A credits for each year following
the 36 month period.
None necessary
Employed 500 hours
within 12 months prior to
submitting application
Employed 1,000 hours
within 12 months prior
to submitting application
1
Individuals who graduate from an accredited formal training program at the Technician or Technologist level are eligible to apply for a lower-level certification under the A1
eligibility pathway.
2
COA-OMP is the Commission on Accreditation of Ophthalmic Medical Programs. CMA is the Canadian Medical Association.
3
Candidates who attend a formal training program may apply for the certification examination up to two months prior to graduation from the program; however, no
examination results will be sent by JCAHPO to the candidate until official notification of graduation is received and verification of the work experience is received if applicable.
COA Examination Content Areas
The COA examination has 19 content areas. Please refer to Appendix A to review the content areas.
COA Practice Examination
COA examination candidates may elect to complete a COA practice examination. The COA practice multiple-choice examination allows
candidates to sit for the COA examination for an initial fee of $150. If the candidate passes the examination, the candidate would pay an
additional $150 to obtain their certificate within 30 days of receiving their official practice examination results from JCAHPO. The practice
examination will not be considered a formal attempt unless a passing score has been achieved. If a passing score is not achieved, there are
no refunds for the practice examination and candidates will be required to retest based on the initial COA examination fee. The fee schedule
is outlined on page 38.
COA Recertification
An initial certification is valid for 36 months (three years). After that period, recertification is required every three years to maintain the use
of the credential. The recertification period begins exactly 36 months from the month and year that you obtained initial certification.
To recertify, certificants may use one of two pathways:
Recertification Pathway
Continuing
Education Credits
♦
♦
♦
Application Requirement
Continuing Education Requirement
ecertification application printable at www.jcahpo.org
R
postmarked by your recertification date
18 Credits with a minimum of
12 JCAHPO Group A credits. The
other 6 credits may be Group A
or Group B credits*. All credits
must be earned within the 36month recertification cycle.
Sponsoring ophthalmologist signature
Recertification fee. Please see page 38 to review the fee
schedule.
* Please see page 25 for further informat