Prevent Blindness Children’s Vision Screening Certification Course
Prevent Blindness has the only national certification program for children's vision screening.
The Prevent Blindness Children’s Vision Screening Certification course provides participants with a certification in the most current evidence-based vision screening and eye health best practices for school-aged and preschool-aged children.
Video Screenshot from the Prevent Blindness Children's Vision Screening Certification Course
Please note, some states have requirements for children's vision screening that differ from our national certification program. In the following states, please contact your Prevent Blindness affiliate/office for state-specific children's vision screening training and technical assistance.
California
Georgia
Iowa
Massachusetts
North Carolina
Ohio
Texas
Wisconsin
Who Should Take the Course?
The Prevent Blindness Children's Vision Screening Certification Course is appropriate for professionals in home visiting and early care and education programs, as well as in school, childcare, public health, and primary healthcare settings.
The Prevent Blindness course content will meet the vision screening needs, for example, of:
- Head Start Program Staff
- Medical Assistants
- Nurses/School Nurses
- Public Health Nurses
- Primary Healthcare Providers
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
- Physician Assistants in Pediatrics
- Early Care and Education Staff
- Home Visiting Program Staff
- Community Volunteers
Prevent Blindness offers certification in Children’s Vision Screening through two methods- via an in-person class arranged for a group or via an online course supported by video conference.
What Will You Learn?
Participants will learn:
- Common vision disorders in children,
- How to use evidence-based and age-appropriate tools for vision screening,
- How to enhance your screening programs to improve follow-up to eye care for referred children, and
- How to gain access to several educational resources.
What is Certification, and How Long is it Valid?
Successful completion of the course will result in a three-year nationally recognized certification in Children’s Vision Screening provided by Prevent Blindness.
Online Vision Screening Training Course
The Prevent Blindness Online Vision Screening Training Course is taken in a modular format that can be completed at your pace.
The online course covers:
- ABCs (appearance, behavior, and complaint) indicating possible vision disorders;
- An overview of vision disorders in the target age group;
- An explanation of age-appropriate, Prevent Blindness-approved vision screening tools;
- How to arrange the vision screening environment;
- How to use the vision screening tools;
- Referral protocols; and
- Suggestions for improved follow-up on referrals.
Modules can be aligned with most state-specific requirements.
Upon completion of the course, you will be directed back to Prevent Blindness staff to arrange a video conference to complete certification. You will need to demonstrate the following during the video conference to complete certification:
- Explain the purpose of a vision screening for children,
- Describe the minimum components of a children’s vision screening,
- Describe signs of possible eye problems and vision disorders,
- Describe screening roles and responsibilities,
- Conduct a children’s screening in a mock scenario with another adult,
- Interpret screening results,
- Determine whether or not a child should be referred, and
- Explain the data collection and referral follow-up process.
The online course is password-protected and access is provided via a personalized link once the course fee is paid. Please do not send payment information by email. Once payment is processed, you will receive log-in information from the Prevent Blindness site administrator.
Please contact Dr. Kay Nottingham Chaplin at [email protected] regarding training fees and vision screening training services for your area.
In-Person Children’s Vision Screening Training Class
Prevent Blindness will work with groups of individuals to arrange for our certified Trainers to provide on-site training. The Prevent Blindness Children’s Vision Screening Certification Course runs approximately 3 to 4 hours. We cover:
- ABCs (appearance, behavior, and complaint) of possible vision disorders;
- An overview of vision disorders in the target age group;
- An explanation of age-appropriate, Prevent Blindness-approved vision screening tools;
- How to set up the vision screening environment;
- How to use the vision screening tools;
- Referral protocols; and
- Suggestions for improved follow-up on referrals.
We can accommodate 10 to 20 individuals per class and trainer. Class size is limited because we provide time to practice with the screening equipment and role play to demonstrate learned skills. We may also cover other topics depending on geographical needs and interests, such as an overview of educational resources for staff, parents, and students.
Training fees include:
- Professional fee per day for trainer;
- Per person charge for materials; and
- Travel expenses, including mileage or Coach class airfare, ground transportation, hotel, and meal per diem.
Please contact Dr. Kay Nottingham Chaplin at [email protected] regarding training fees and services for your area and/or to schedule a workshop.