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ARBO, ASCO, academy agree to restructure COPE

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The American Academy of Optometry, the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry and the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry announced that an agreement had been reached to restructure the governance of the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education.

“After several years of profession-wide discussions, the academy is pleased to announce that we signed a memorandum of understanding agreement to form a multi-organizational COPE Governing Committee,” former American Academy of Optometry (AAO) president, Brett G. Bence, OD, FAAO, said in an academy press release.

“The collective strengths and unity of our organizations will ensure the highest standards of optometric continuing education and the sustained advancement of the profession,” he said.

The new COPE Governing Committee will comprise representatives from ARBO, the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry and the academy.

Initial nominations to the COPE Governing Committee are now underway, with the anticipation of completion in January 2019, according to the release. Duties of the committee will include setting standards, policies and procedures for the COPE accreditation program; making accreditation determinations based on compliance with COPE accreditation criteria and policies; and preparing and presenting an annual report to the ARBO House of Delegates and the boards of directors of the participating organizations.

COPE accredits optometric continuing education for use by ARBO’s member regulatory boards in assessing and determining eligibility for licensure by optometrists, the academy explained in the release. COPE accreditation promotes improvement in competence, performance and patient outcomes.