About

The American Orthoptic Council® (AOC®) was founded in 1935 with the main purpose of establishing standards for orthoptists in the United States. Besides examining and certifying individual orthoptists, the AOC® is also responsible for setting and monitoring standards for the education of orthoptists, and reviews and grants accreditation to orthoptic programs in the United States. The AOC® establishes guidelines for the Orthoptic profession, the educational institutions and ethical conduct of certified orthoptists. It approves, encourages and promotes continuing education courses, workshops and symposia which are required of Orthoptists to maintain their certification. The expanded long-range planning and educational efforts of the American Orthoptic Council®, working together with representatives from the sponsoring organizations, promotes the recognition, nationally and internationally, of this small, highly specialized post graduate profession of Orthoptists.

Meet the AOC®

There are twenty-six members of the AOC®: 13 orthoptists and 13 ophthalmologists. Members are representatives from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Ophthalmological Society (AOS), the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPO&S), the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (NANOS), the American Association of Certified Orthoptists (AACO), the Canadian Orthoptic Council (COC) and the Canadian Orthoptic Society (TCOS).

The thirteen Orthoptist members that serve on the AOC include:

• President of the AACO
• Vice President of the AACO
• Two AACO Elected Representatives
• AACO Representative to the International Orthoptic Association (IOA)
• AACO Representative to Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (IJCAHPO)
• Representative of The Canadian Orthoptic Society (TCOS)
• AACO Appointed Chair of the Education Committee
• Two Orthoptist Members Representing AAP
• Three Orthoptist Members Representing AAPOS