COVID-19 Advisories

March 20, 2023: The ACOE plans to discontinue COVID-19 flexibilities on November 7, 2023 (which is 180 days after the Federal government’s proposed date of May 11, 2023, to end the COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency.)  Should the COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency not end on May 11, 2023, the associated end date of ACOE flexibilities will be adjusted accordingly.

July 26, 2021: The ACOE’s plan for resumption of on-site evaluation visits and guidance for required follow-up visits for visits that were conducted virtually.

Feb. 26, 2021: Second Amendment to ACOE’s Advisory Statement on Temporary Flexibilities for Professional Optometric Degree Programs regarding modifications to program established curriculum requirements, program length, use of distance learning, and complying with ACOE standard 2.10.2.1 re: externship site visits by the program

Dec. 16, 2020: On Oct. 23, 2020, the ACOE issued updated Advisory information regarding COVID-19. The updated policies and advisory information specified flexibilities would be allowed for a timeframe not to exceed the allowances by the US Department of Education (USDE). On Dec. 11, 2020, the Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education released  updated guidance regarding waivers and modifications of statutory and regulatory provisions. This updated guidance establishes the timeframe for these flexibilities to be the duration of the national emergency declaration and 180 days following the date on which the COVID-19 national emergency declaration is rescinded.

Oct. 23, 2020: Amendment to ACOE Temporary Policy for Virtual Site Visits, Granting Extensions of Accreditation, Providing Good Cause Extensions, and Granting Retroactive Accreditations

Oct. 23, 2020: Amendment to ACOE's Policy on Extension of Accreditation

Oct. 23, 2020: Amendment to ACOE's Advisory Statement on Temporary Flexibilities for O.D. Programs re: modifications to program established curriculum requirements, program length, use of distance learning, and complying with ACOE standard 2.10.2.1 re: externship site visits by the program

June 27, 2020: Advisory to Residency Programs That Require Passage of the NBEO as part of Admission Criteria and Advisory to Residency Programs Regarding Altered Start and End Dates in Response to COVID-19

Mar. 27, 2020: Advisory information for Residency Programs from ACOE re: COVID-19

Mar. 16, 2020: Advisory information for O.D. Programs from ACOE re: COVID-19

The American Optometric Association Health Policy Institute (HPI) is closely monitoring developments regarding COVID-19. Access valuable practice and patient resources, FAQ's, CDC recommendations and the latest HPI information for doctors of optometry.