Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist Certification ( COMT )
To qualify for certification at the COMT level , you must meet one of the following five options :
Eligibility Pathway
COMT – TG1
COMT – TG2
COMT – TG3
COMT – TG4
COMT – TG5
Education
COA-OMP or CMA 1 accredited training program at the technologist level & two or more years of college education
♦ If you completed the program more than 12 months ago , you will need to submit 12 JCAHPO Group A credits for each year following graduation .
♦ Successful completion of two or more years of college and / or university-level courses ( 90 quarter or 60 semester credits ).
COA-OMP or CMA 1 accredited training program at the technologist level & less than two years of college education 2
♦ If you completed the program more than 12 months ago , you will need to submit 12 JCAHPO Group A credits for each year following graduation . The credits must be earned within 36 months prior to submitting your application .
Current COT certification & JCAHPO Group A credits
♦ You will need to submit 12 JCAHPO Group A credits earned within 12 months prior to submitting your application .
♦ Must maintain certification as a COT while pursuing COMT certification
Current CO or OC ( C ) certification & JCAHPO Group A credits
♦ You will need to submit 12 JCAHPO Group A credits earned within 12 months prior to submitting your application .
♦ Must maintain certification as an Orthoptist while pursuing COMT certification
Fast-Track option : Allows a current COT the use of 6,000 hours of non-certified work experience prior to becoming certified , and JCAHPO Group A credits .
♦ You will need to submit 12 JCAHPO Group A credits earned within 12 months prior to submitting your application .
♦ Must maintain certification as a COT while pursuing COMT certification
Work Experience With an Ophthalmologist
None necessary
Employed 4,000 hours within 24 months prior to submitting application
Employed 6,000 hours as a COT
Employed 4,000 hours as a CO or OC ( C ) within 60 months prior to submitting application
♦ Employed 3,000 hours as a COT and
♦ 6,000 hours of non-certified work experience with an ophthalmologist prior to becoming JCAHPO certified . Verification of previous work experience needs to be in the form of a letter from your ophthalmologist on official letterhead .
1
COA-OMP is the Commission on Accreditation of Ophthalmic Medical Programs . CMA is the Canadian Medical Association .
2
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 .
COMT Multiple-Choice Examination Content Areas The COMT examination has 17 content areas . Please refer to Appendix A to review the content areas .
COMT Examination Requirements
In addition to completing the COMT multiple-choice examination , COMT candidates need to complete a skill-based performance test . The performance test is composed of two parts – the COT Skill Evaluation and the COMT Performance Test . If a candidate has previous successfully completed the COT Skill Evaluation and maintained the COT certification , it is not necessary to repeat it . Please refer to Appendix A to view the tasks on the COT Skill Evaluation . The Skill Evaluation , if required , and the COMT Performance Test must be completed within 36 months of approval to complete the multiple-choice examination .
COMT Performance Test
The computer simulated COMT Performance Test is currently available at the JCAHPO headquarters in St . Paul , Minnesota . Contact the JCAHPO Certification Department for additional available testing locations or to schedule an appointment to take the Performance Test in St . Paul . You will have a total of 60 minutes to complete all five skills . There is no time limit on each of the individual tasks . Please refer to Appendix A to review the tasks on the COMT Performance Test .
Performance Test Construction and Scoring The areas of performance included in the test are those most commonly performed by Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologists ( COMTs ), according to a job task analysis survey of working technologists and sponsoring ophthalmologists .
The Performance Test scoring system is based on performance steps and the candidate is evaluated on how well each task is performed . The system includes these elements :
♦ Each skill is scored independently .
♦ Each skill is scored on two components : technique and accuracy of results . To determine the technique score , each skill is divided into steps . Each step is assigned a weighted value based upon its level of importance to the overall process , as determined by the panel of subject matter experts . Points are assigned for correct responses based upon the weighted value of the step . A minimum threshold has been established for achieving a “ satisfactory ” score . If this established minimum is not met , a “ non-satisfactory ” score will be assigned .
♦ To evaluate the accuracy of results , the panel of subject matter experts has established tolerance ranges for each of the required categories . To receive a “ satisfactory ” score on accuracy of results , all required results must fall within the tolerance ranges . Otherwise , a “ nonsatisfactory ” score will be assigned .
A “ satisfactory ” score in both technique and accuracy of results is required to pass each individual skill . A passing score in all five skill areas is needed to successfully complete the Performance Test .
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