Sept. 8, 2026
Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA) recently concluded its first A/Eye Certification Course: Intelligent Tools for Private Practice. With more than 150 participants, the course provided practices with the foundational knowledge and practical guidance for using AI to support practice efficiency and long-term growth.
“The A/Eye Certification Course reflects PECAA’s commitment to helping private practices stay informed, competitive and prepared for what’s next in eyecare,” said PECAA Chief Member Experience Officer Justin Manning, OD, MPH, FAAO. “By focusing on practical education and immersion experiences, this course empowers practices with the clarity and confidence to incorporate AI into their day-to-day operations.”
Created in partnership with the VSP® Global Innovation Center, the six-session program explored essential topics, including AI fundamentals and the technology’s use in administrative tasks, clinical applications and marketing, as well as its ethical implementation and future trends shaping the optometric profession. In addition to six COPE-accredited hours of traditional learning, participants also had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through additional workshops where AI platforms were applied to real-world practice operations.
HEAR FROM ATTENDEES
“Prior to enrolling in the course, we weren’t using AI in our practice in the capacity that we are now. We’ve learned to leverage tools for strategic and financial analysis and to set benchmarks for various practice areas. A game-changer was understanding how to enter prompts to produce better answers to the questions we were asking, helping us put our tools to use in a more efficient way,” said Brian Haugen, MD, of Northridge Eye Care in Red Bluff, CA.
Practice Administrator Alicia Chavez added, “In addition to using AI to better analyze data and produce predictive insights, these tools are now saving us time, allowing us to focus on other tasks and patient care.”
Dr. Brian Haugen |
Alicia Chavez |
FIND MORE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
A/Eye Certification Course: Intelligent Tools for Private Practice joins PECAA’s suite of industry-best certification courses designed to enhance team skills and support private practice success and will be offered again in 2027. Open to all doctors and their staff, PECAA’s Certification Courses underscore PECAA’s continued support for practice-wide learning and innovation within the independent optometry community.
Check the PECAA education calendar frequently for current course offerings.
