A Canadian Certified Optometric Assistant (CCOA) certificate is valid for three years. To maintain the CCOA designation, 18 hours of continuing education (CE) credits, including CPR, must be submitted every three years (fee applies). Failure to maintain current CCOA status forfeits the legal right to use the CCOA designation, and the certificate is no longer recognized. CCOAs must pay an annual membership fee in order to be in good standing with the CAO.
CAO maintains the right to determine acceptable topics for CE which may include any competency linked to scope. Subject matter should be generic, rather than a product specific sales pitch. Educational office meetings will not count as acceptable CE if provided by in-house ODs. Attendance at Optofairs, exhibit halls, and tradeshows will not be accepted as CE credit.