Privacy Policy

Last updated: 2/24/26

Overview

The American Orthoptic Council collects and processes your personal information when you use our website, apply for certification, apply for certifying exams, or purchase products. By using our Services, you agree to these practices.

Collection, use and disclosure of personal information

1. Information We Collect
We collect information you voluntarily provide, including:

• Contact Details: Name, email, mailing address, and login credentials.
• Professional Data: Employment status, employer details, and continuing education records.
• Student Data: Proof of degree, program information, and exam details.
• Payments: Credit card data for purchases (processed securely via paypal).
• You can choose to have certain contact information available for other COs to search. 

2. How We Use Your Information
We use your data to:

• Manage accounts and fulfill service requests or orders.
• Communicate administrative updates and newsletters.
• Verify certification status for employers and the public.
• Advocate for the profession (using aggregated, de-identified data). 

3. Sharing and Security

• Sharing: We do not receive data from third parties. We only share information to provide services or as required by law.
• Security: We use technical safeguards to protect your data, though no internet transmission is 100% secure. 

Third-parties applications

We may use your personal information for our own business purposes, such as for undertaking internal research for technological development and demonstration. This is not considered to be 'selling' of your personal information.

We have not disclosed, sold, or shared any personal information to third parties for a business or commercial purpose. We will not sell or share personal information in the future belonging to website visitors, users, and other consumers.

Your certification includes an option to share your contact information with the American Association of Certified Orthoptists. We work closely with the AACO to verify certification status. You must be a certified orthoptist with the AOC in order to be a member of the AACO, run for office and vote with the membership organization. 

If you apply to American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus or the International Strabismus Association for membership, they will contact our home office for certification verification. 

Contact us

Questions or concerns? Reading this privacy notice will help you understand your privacy rights and choices. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Services. If you still have any questions or concerns, please contact us at aoc.lesliefrance@gmail.com