The CEI Eye Care Scholarship

There are no local training programs for technicians supporting these physician practices. In an effort to improve the quality of eye care in our community, CEIF is offering scholarships for eligible, non-certified ophthalmology technicians to achieve JCAHPO certification.

About JCAHPO

The Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) was established in 1969 by six physician ophthalmology organizations to offer certification and continuing education opportunities for ophthalmic allied health personnel. Since then, more than 29,000 people in the United States, Canada, and around the world have earned JCAHPO certification. JCAHPO is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, comprised of representatives from participating ophthalmic organizations, and a public member. The Certification Committee, a committee of the Board of Directors, governs JCAHPO certification. The Committee provides the job-related insight necessary to ensure that the examinations are relevant and valid, and monitors procedures to ensure that examinations are administered fairly and under proper conditions. JCAHPO has designed the certification process to serve important public needs as well as those of the ophthalmic assisting community by:

  • Setting specific and measurable standards for Allied Ophthalmic Personnel (AOP) knowledge and skills.

  • Formally recognizing the AOPs who have met those standards.

  • Providing official confirmation of certificants’ qualifications to employers and the public.

  • Must have successfully completed the AAO Independent Study Course (these expire 3 years after original pass date).

  • Be determined eligible to sit for the certification exam (1,000+ hours/6 months worked under an ophthalmologist).

  • Have the endorsement of the immediate supervisor/manager.

  • Have the signed endorsement of the appropriate physician attesting to the applicant's readiness to sit for the exam.

Qualifying Factors

  1. Meet eligibilities listed above.

  2. Submit the application to CEIF. > Download the Application

  3. If you are then granted the scholarship, you will receive a Certification Guidebook (also available for download here) where you must fill out pages 41-43 and submit to CEIF.
    > Download the Certification Guidebook

  4. CEIF will cut a check of $150 to pay for the practice exam (Cincinnati Eye Institute follows up with the remaining $150) and submits your filled pages with it to JCAHPO.

  5. You will receive a letter form JCAHPO stating whether you will continue to take the certification test or not.

Application Process

You are only eligible to receive the CEIF Eye Care Scholarship once.