New fees beginning Jan 2001
Recently, the CAOHC Council reviewed costs and fees as part of its strategic planning process. All approved CAOHC courses scheduled from January 1, 2002 forward (including military) courses will require the following application fees:
- $20.00 per application – per Course Director – for 1-3 courses applied for at one time
- $35.00 per application – per Course Director – for 4-10 courses applied for at one time
- $50.00 per application – per Course Director – for more than 10 courses applied for at one time
Changes in instructors, course date, or course location will be made at no charge. A change in the Course Director requires a new application form be submitted to CAOHC and a new fee be paid. No refunds, or rollover of funds to another Course Director or into the next calendar year, will be given in the case of course cancellations. All monies are to be submitted for an annual calendar year. Payments can be made via check, MasterCard, or Visa (to include government IMPACT cards with appropriate approval).
Discounts for OHCs and for CAOHC manuals
The federal discount for Occupational Hearing Conservationist (OHCs) certification continues. Federal OHC’s only pay $30 for their 5 year CAOHC certification. That’s only $6 per year! Just getting the CAOHC Update newsletter is well worth that.
Another valuable federal discount is for the CAOHC manual. We can order manuals for $20 each in any quantity. Other CDs must order 50 or more manuals to get that level of discount. They pay $40 for a single manual.
Remember to file student Roster NLT 30 days after course
An easy way to remember all the steps for Course Directors (CDs) to take before and after a course is to use the Checklist on page 5 of the 2001 Certified Course Director Handbook. Course Director Obligations are also listed on page 6 of the Certified Course Director Handbook.
One item that occasionally gets missed is the requirement to submit accurate and complete lists of all students successfully completing any CAOHC-approved course to CAOHC within 30 days of the course. Even is you think at the time that your students will not become CAOHC certified, you are required to submit their names. Remember to do your part so that if your students do want CAOHC certification, there is no confusion about their successful completion of a course. Hopefully these students will see the value of CAOHC certification, especially with their federal discount!
Upcoming CD workshops
- August 26-30, 2001 – Military Audiology Short Course – Albuquerque, NM (Sponsored by the MAA for DoD personnel) No fee
- October 1, 2001 – Embassy Suites BWI – Baltimore, MD (Sponsored by CAOHC) Fee: $295
- February 20, 2002 – Hotel location TBD – Dallas, TX (Sponsored by CAOHC) (Held in conjunction with NHCA Annual Conference – 21-23 February at the Dallas Westin Park Central Hotel) Fee: $295.
Anatomy and Physiology curriculum package
As you know, one of the requirements for a CAOHC approved OHC course is that three (3) of the CAOHC Component Professional Organizations (CPOs) disciplines be represented on the faculty. CAOHC has produced an anatomy and physiology curriculum package that can substitute for a live presentation by an otolaryngologist. The video and choices of auxiliary materials can be used to fill the minimum requirement of 60 minutes of this topic. The package can also be used as a back-up discipline in case of last minute cancellations or as supplemental materials.
The video and auxiliary materials could also be used for in-service training or as part of any teaching opportunities for hearing conservation. The order form for this curriculum package can be found on page 21 of 2001 Certified Course Director Handbook or can be downloaded from the web site.
Role of Professional Supervisor
What is a professional supervisor? OSHA says: “(g)(3)… A technician who performs audiometric tests must be responsible to an audiologist, otolaryngologist or physician.” CAOHC uses the term “Professional supervisor to refer to that audiologist, otolaryngologist or physician.”
The 1998 CAOHC OHC survey showed that two percent of OHCs did not know who their “professional supervisor” was and 22% percent identified their professional-supervisor as someone other than an audiologist, physician or ENT. CAOHC is working toward better understanding of this relationship by both the OHC and the professional supervisors. CDs can help by emphasizing this requirement. The various military regulations address this relationship as well.
Professional supervisors have a wide range of comfort with their role. CAOHC is sponsoring a series of courses at the 2001 American Occupational Health Conference in San Francisco in April 22 – 27, 2001. Please share this information with physicians, who serve as professional supervisors in your HCP.
e-Signatures accepted on CAOHC web site
All of the CAOHC forms are now available on the CAOHC web site. Electronic signatures are accepted on these forms with just a few clicks of the mouse. CD Certification or Recertification applications, OHC Course Approval forms, CD Workshop Registration, and order forms for CAOHC manuals or the Anatomy and Physiology Curriculum Package are there and easy to submit. Let us know if this improved accessibility is helpful.
Reported by your MAA representatives to the CAOHC Council
Col Dick Danielson
LtCol Theresa Schulz