ACVREP COMS study guide
ACVREP COMS · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) credential is issued by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP), a private, not-for-profit certification body established in 1999. A COMS is a highly trained expert who specializes in working with individuals who are blind, have low vision, or have functional visual limitations, empowering them to achieve life goals for education, employment, avocation, and independence. A COMS may be blind, partially sighted, or sighted. Candidates complete an extensive educational program, a 350+ hour internship under the supervision of an experienced COMS, and a certification exam developed with PhD-level psychometricians following scientific best-practice standards. Topics on this exam: Orientation and Mobility Specialist Practice (Scope of Practice / Body of Knowledge) and Professional Certification, Ethics, and Recertification Requirements. The ACVREP COMS study guide has 2 sections and about 1,494 words.
01Orientation and Mobility Specialist Practice: Scope of Practice and Body of Knowledge
An Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) teaches people with visual impairments to travel safely, efficiently, and independently. The body of knowledge blends sensory, cognitive, motor, and environmental analysis with systematic instruction. Expect questions that test whether you can distinguish assessment from instruction , and O&M-specific skills from adjacent professional territory (e.g., low vision rehabilitation, physical therapy, or special education). Know these domains: concept development (body image, spatial and environmental concepts, time/distance); sensory development (using residual vision, auditory, tactual, olfactory, and kinesthetic information); orientation skills (position fixing, compass directions, mental mapping, route planning); mobility skills (human guide, cane techniques, protective techniques, self-protective and trailing); dog guide considerations; public transportation and street crossing; and technology (GPS, accessible apps, electronic travel aids).
382 words, about 2 min02Professional Certification: ACVREP COMS Requirements
ACVREP certification is a voluntary professional credential demonstrating that a COMS meets established standards of knowledge and practice. Certification is distinct from state licensure and from academic degrees. Questions frequently test this distinction: a degree does not confer certification, and certification does not automatically grant a license to practice where a state requires one. Candidates should understand the general pathway: meeting education requirements (typically a bachelor's degree or higher with specialized O&M coursework from an accredited program), completing supervised fieldwork or internship hours, passing the ACVREP certification examination, and applying for certification.
1,112 words, about 6 min