Ophthalmic Surgical Assisting Certification (OSA)
Candidates who choose to become certified with the sub-specialty of Ophthalmic Surgical Assisting (OSA) must be currently
certified at one of the three core levels of certification (COA, COT or COMT) and meet one of the following options:
Eligibility
Pathway
OSA –SA1
Education
Work Experience With an Ophthalmologist
COA-OMP or CMA1 accredited training
program for ophthalmic medical
technicians that includes instruction and
supervised experience in ophthalmic
surgical assisting
Worked for 18 months in a nationally accredited operating suite
functioning as a sterile first assistant, sterile scrub assistant, or
non-sterile circulator. This work experience must be under the
supervision of regularly scheduling ophthalmic surgeons, one
of whom is your sponsoring ophthalmologist. The work
experience must be completed within 36 months prior to
submitting application.
OSA – SA2
OSA – SA3
1
If you completed the program more than 12 months ago, you
will need to provide evidence of six months work experience in
a nationally accredited operating suite, under the supervision
of regularly scheduling ophthalmic surgeons, one of whom is
your sponsoring ophthalmologist. The work experience must be
completed within 12 months prior to submitting application.
Successful completion of an approved
surgical independent study course
completed within 12 months of making
application.
Log of 15 Category A surgical cases observed within the last 12
months under the supervision of a sponsoring ophthalmologist.
Category A surgical cases may be noted in Appendix D. Please refer
to Appendix D for the OSA case log.
COA-OMP is the Commission on Accreditation of Ophthalmic Medical Programs. CMA is the Canadian Medical Association.
Content Outline for the OSA Examination
The OSA examination has 8 content areas. Please refer to Appendix D for the OSA examination content areas.
OSA Recertification
Because the OSA sub-specialty is linked to your core level of certification, your first recertification cycle may be shorter than the
standard 36 months (three years). Once the two cycles are synchronized, you will be due to apply for recertification in both areas
every 36 months.
For example – David is currently a COT who passed the OSA examination on June 15, 2014. His current COT certificate is
valid from January 2013 through January 2016. His new OSA certificate will be dated June 2014 through January 2016. After
recertifying, his certification cycle for both areas will be January 2016 through January 2019.
To recertify, certificants may use one of two pathways:
Recertification Pathway
Log of Surgical Cases
♦
Application Requirement
Continuing Education Requirement
OSA recertification surgical log printable at
www.jcahpo.org postmarked by your
recertification date.
Log of 30 surgical cases in which you have actively
participated as a sterile first assistant, sterile scrub
assistant, or non-sterile circulator. A minimum of 90%
of the cases need to be from Category A. The number
of surgical cases may be pro-rated for your first
recertification if the cycle was shorter than 36 months.
♦
Sponsoring ophthalmologist signature
♦
A separate application fee is not required.
You have the option of submitting 10 surgical
CE credits to substitute for up to 10 surgical
cases. JCAHPO approved or AMA CME credits are
acceptable.
*P
lease refer to Appendix D for more information on Category A and
Category B surgeries.
Retest in Lieu of
CE Credits
♦
Examination application printable at
www.jcahpo.org
♦Sponsoring
♦
ophthalmologist signature
Examination fee. Please see page 38 to
review the fee schedule.
For more information about recertification, please refer to page 25.
None.
All initial eligibility requirements must be met.
Successful completion of the OSA multiple-choice
examination is required for recertification.
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