Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO)

Ophthalmic Surgical Assisting (OSA)

Credential: Ophthalmic Surgical Assisting (OSA)  GI Bill resource  NCCA resource
Credentialing Agency: Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO)

Renewal Period: 3 years

The Ophthalmic Surgical Assisting certification is one of JCAHPO's four specialty certification levels. The Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant certification is available to certified ophthalmic medical personnel with a core level of certification who are interested in helping ophthalmologists with a variety of important surgical eye procedures. Ophthalmic Surgical Assisting is a sub-specialty certification level that may be attached to a JCAHPO core certification (COA, COT, or COMT). Certificants work in a very specific division of the eye care field.

More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.

Ophthalmic Surgical Assisting (OSA)

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

 

Eligibility Requirements (View Details)

  • Credential Prerequisite: JCAHPO COA, COT, or COMT
  • Experience
  • Education: Accredited Program
  • Training
  • Membership
  • Other
  • Fee

Note: This credential may have multiple options for becoming eligible. Listed are the minimum requirements based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.

Exam Requirements (View Details)

  • Exam
  • Written Exam
  • Oral Exam
  • Practical Exam
  • Performance Assessment

RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY

Renewal Period: 3 years

  • Continuing Education
  • Exam
  • Continuing Education OR Exam
  • Fee
  • Other

AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO)

2025 Woodlane Drive
St. Paul, MN  55125-2998

Phone: (800) 284-3937

Fax: (651) 731-0410
Email: jcahpo@jcahpo.org

Show All / Hide All

Candidates must be currently certified at one of the three core levels of certification (COA, COT or COMT).

Option 1:

Candidates must complete a COA-OMP or CMA accredited training program for ophthalmic medical technicians that includes instruction and supervised experience in ophthalmic surgical assisting.

If the program was completed more than 12 months ago, candidates 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 the candidate's sponsoring ophthalmologist. The work experience must be completed within 12 months prior to submitting application.

Option 2:

Candidate must have 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 the candidate's sponsoring ophthalmologist. The work experience must be completed within 36 months prior to submitting application.

Option 3:

Candidate must have successfully completed an approved surgical independent study course within 12 months of making application. Candidate also must submit the OSA Cast Study Log showing 15 Category A surgical cases observed within the last 12 months under the supervision of a sponsoring ophthalmologist.

Written Exam

  • Pre-Operative Preparation of the Patient (5%)
    • Consent
    • Intraoperative monitoring
  • Instruments (25%)
    • Identification
    • Selection/setup
    • Maintenance
    • Sterilization
    • Sutures/supplies
    • Function
  • Aseptic Technique (20%)
    • Scrubbing/gowning/gloving/prepping
    • Circulating
    • General Knowledge
    • Assisting
  • Ophthalmic Anesthesia (5%)
    • General anesthesia
    • Local anesthesia
    • Topical anesthesia
  • Surgical Procedures (27%)
    • Cataract surgery
    • Corneal surgery
    • Glaucoma surgery
    • Strabismus surgery
    • Oculo-plastics surgery
    • Orbital surgery
    • Lacrimal surgery
    • Refractive surgery
    • Retinal surgery
    • Laser surgery
    • Other
  • Surgical Complications (3%)
  • Ophthalmic Surgical Pharmacology (10%)
    • Miotics
    • Viscoelastics
    • Enzymes
    • Mydriatics
    • Osmotic 9
    • Narcotics
    • Other
  • Minor Surgery (5%)
    • Assisting the surgeon
    • Instructing the patient

RECERTIFICATION

Ophthalmic Surgical Assisting (OSA)

Renewal Period: 3 years

The Ophthalmic Surgical Assisting (OSA) credential has the following recertification information:

  • Candidates must submit the OSA Cast Study Log of 30 surgical cases in which his/her 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 the first recertification if the cycle was shorter than 36 months.
  • Candidates 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.
  • Candidates may also successfully complete the OSA multiple-choice exam in lieu of earning credits for recertification.

In Demand

This certification is considered in demand

COOL Bucks

See your installation Education Service Officer for credential exam information and coordinating instructions.

COOL Summary

Click to go to the COOL Summary page for this MOC.

Some

Credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the military occupation (at least one critical task but less than 80%)

Most

Credential is directly related to most of the major duties associated with the military occupation (at least 80%)

Other

Credential is related to this military occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will likely require additional education, training, or experience

Promotion Points

This certification has been approved for promotion points.

Click for more information.

Star

Star credentials are MOS enhancing, as designated by the Proponent. MOS enhancing credentials are directly related to an MOS or ASI, are taught either partially or completely as part of a Program of Instruction (POI), and improves the MOS technical proficiency.

Skill Level

The Skill Level reflects the level, based on MOS training and/or experience, the Soldier should be the most prepared to successfully earn the credential. See the Table Legend for details about each level.

Proponent Funded

Indicates the credential may have funding through the MOS proponent. Some proponents offer credentialing opportunities in conjunction with military training and/or as part of MOS development beyond the training base.

Click for more information.

Navy Bucks

Credential voucher or reimbursement for credential exam, re-certification, or maintenance fee has been approved for payment through the Navy's Credential Program Office. To get a voucher request form, click 'Complete Voucher and Apply' at the top of any page.

CG Bucks

Coming Soon - Coast Guard policy regarding service member eligibility requirements to participate in the Voluntary Credentialing Program is under review with a projected release date of first quarter FY20.

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted E1 through E4

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E5 through E6

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E7 and Above

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted “A” School through E5

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E6 through E7

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E8 and Above

LaDR

This credential is recommended on the rating Learning and Development Roadmap (LaDR) for Sailors currently in the pay grade indicated on the icon, BUT MAY BE TAKEN BY SAILORS IN OTHER PAY GRADES.

Click for more information.

GI Bill®

Reimbursement for exam fees has been approved for payment through the GI Bill. Click for external link to GI Bill licensing and certification information.

Note: GI Bill approval data is updated quarterly. For the latest information, visit the WEAMS Licenses/Certifications Search page. Make sure to select "Both" in the LAC Category Type drop-down before searching.

Click here for more information.

ANSI

This credential has been accredited by ANSI. Click for external link to the ANSI web site.

Click here for more information.

ICAC

This credential has been accredited by ICAC. Click for external link to the ICAC web site.

Click here for more information.

ABSNC

This credential has been accredited by ABSNC. Click for external link to the ABSNC web site.

Click here for more information.

NCCA

This credentialing program has been accredited by NCCA. Click for external link to the NCCA web site.

Click here for more information.

IAS

This credential has been accredited by IAS. Click for external link to the IAS web site.

Click here for more information.

Low

May be difficult to attain: minimum education requirement is a Bachelor's degree, and/or minimum experience is 10 or more years.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

Medium

Moderate ease of attainment: minimum education requirement = Associate's and/or prerequisite and/or minimum experience = more than 2 years and less than 10 years of experience.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

High

Highly attainable: mimum education requirement = HS or less and/or minimum experience = 2 years or less experience and no additional requirements.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

MOS is Military Occupational Specialty
ASI is Additional Skill Identifier
WOMOS is Warrant Officer Military Occupational Specialty

Army e-learning

State-of-the art Computer Based Training available for free to the Army Workforce. Click for more information.

Click here for more information.

NKO e-learning

Credential preparation courses are provided at no cost through Navy e-Learning. Click for external link to the Navy Knowledge Online (NKO) web site, then select the “Navy e-Learning” link within the “Learning” tab to proceed to Navy e-Learning.

Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job
Registered Apprenticeship
Click here for External link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
Click here for External link to: My Next Move salary info for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
Click here for External link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
Click here for External link to: My Next Move salary info for Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
Click here for External link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Surgical Assistants
Click here for External link to: My Next Move salary info for Surgical Assistants
Click here for External link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Surgical Technologists
Click here for External link to: My Next Move salary info for Surgical Technologists
This is an official U.S. Navy website
Updated: October 16, 2019
Top