The Certified Paraoptometric Examination is prepared and administered by the AOA Commission on Paraoptometric Certification (CPC) . The different levels of certification—CPO, CPOA and CPOT - determine which tasks a paraoptometric can do.
To be eligible to take the CPO certification exam, you must have worked in eye care for at least six months and have a high school diploma or the equivalent.
The CPO exam has 100 questions, and you get 90 minutes to complete it. The exam covers:
Basic science
Clinical principles and procedures
Optics and dispensing
Professional issues