CACO Eligibility

 

The following outlines eligibility criteria for those seeking to register for the CACO.

1.     Eligibility: Registrant Status 

	Registrant Status	Required Education	Documentation / Proof Required*
A	Recent/New OD Graduate who is currently enrolled or recently graduated	OD Degree from ACOE-accredited institution	Candidate eligibility verification by authorized signing officer of the school
B	Other OD Graduate who is registered/licensed to practice as Optometrist in Canada or the U.S. (NB: registration/licensing must provide privileges of independent practice. In Canada, this may be known as a “General Certificate.”  License / Registration that permits practice with limitations, such as a student registration, does not satisfy this criterion).	OD Degree from ACOE-accredited institution	Candidate eligibility verification by the Registrar, or equivalent presiding officer, of the regulatory board that the candidate is licensed, or registered, and practicing in good standing within the jurisdiction of said regulatory board
C	Other OD Graduate who is not registered/licensed to practice as Optometrist in Canada or the U.S	OD Degree from ACOE-accredited institution	Candidate eligibility verification by an authorized signing officer of the school
D	Graduate of non-ACOE institution who has completed bridging at International Optometric Bridging Program (IOBP) or University of Montreal via the OOQ	see Documentation  --->	Candidate eligibility verification by an authorized representative of the UWIOBP or OOQ/University of Montreal that the candidate has completed a recognized bridging program prior to taking the CACO
	Note: Candidates should refer to the “Application Checklist” for information on documents required to be submitted to apply for a CACO administration CEO-ECO reserves the right to request additional proof as required to assist in the verification of documentation

Note: The policy does not have a time limit on graduation. Regulatory authorities may have individual time limits or requirements relating to registration.

 

2. CACO Completion

• Registrants may initiate all components of the CACO at one administration and have three consecutive administrations of the CACO to pass all components and receive a Certificate of Competence in Optometry; else, they will have failed the CACO in its entirety.
• Registrants enrolled in the final year of an optometry program accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education leading to a Doctor of Optometry degree may take the Synthesis and Ocular Therapeutics components (the written components) of the CACO during their final year of study, however may not initiate the Clinical Skills components until they are within sixty days of graduating from their program. Registrants in this category who seek a Certificate of Competence in Optometry must take the remaining Clinical Skills components within fourteen months of the written components and be actively engaged in an optometry program accredited by ACOE for no less than eight months of that fourteen month period. Registrants in this category who seek a Certificate of Competence in Optometry must pass all components of the CACO within three consecutive administrations; else, they will have failed the CACO in its entirety. Registrants enrolled in a bridging program at ÉUOM or UWSO and who seek a Certificate of Competence in Optometry are required to complete the bridging program prior to taking the CACO (written and clinical components).
• Registrants who fail one or more components of the CACO may be reassessed on only the failed component(s)
• Registrants who opt to skip an administration opportunity forfeit that opportunity
• Registrants who fail one or more components of the CACO on initial assessment will be advised to address the cause of the failure(s) with appropriate remedial training before taking a reassessment of the failed component(s)
• Registrants who fail a first reassessment of any component(s) may be reassessed a second time in the failed component(s)
• Registrants who fail one of more components of the CACO on a first reassessment will be advised to participate in structured and supervised education and/or training related to the failed components before taking a second reassessment of the failed component(s)

 

 

CACO Eligibility Re-establishment Policy

 

The following policy and procedure apply only to candidates who have failed the CACO in its entirety as defined above (i.e. registrants who fail to pass all components of the CACO in three consecutive administrations have failed the CACO in its entirety) and who seek to apply for re-eligibility.

 

 

All inquiries with CEO-ECO regarding requests for eligibility must be in writing, i.e. by email, fax or mail. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.

 

To be eligible to register for the CACO after having failed the CACO in its entirety, a person must agree to take the CACO again in its entirety, initiating all components concurrently, with the results of the current assessment superseding all prior assessments or reassessments. In addition, in the year preceding the repeat assessment the individual must participate in a structured and supervised education and/or training program related to the maintenance or development of competence acceptable to CEO-ECO. The individual’s proposed education and/or training program must be submitted to CEO-ECO for approval.

 

Approvals of eligibility do not replace the submission of an application for the CACO and the deadline for response to the offer of eligibility does not replace any and all CEO-ECO policies including application deadlines for the CACO, available on www.ceo-eco.org.

 

IMPORTANT:

Candidates are encouraged to download and read carefully the complete the policy and procedures to request eligibility for a future CACO administration.

Supervisor Form available here