This index to educational programs in orthotics and prosthetics is based in the guide prepared by the National Association of Prosthetic & Orthotic Educators (NAPOE), whose mission is to promote and enhance primary education in O&P. It describes practitioner programs which are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP) and technician programs which are accredited by the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE).
LEVELS OF PRACTICE
Practitioners
O&P practitioners work directly with physicians and other healthcare providers to help rehabilitate the physically challenged. Orthotists design and fit devices, called orthoses, for patients with disabling conditions of the limbs and spine. Prosthetists design and fit devices, called prostheses, for patients who have partial or total absence of a limb. Preparation for entry into the profession is based on a four-year degree. If the under-graduate degree is not O&P-specific, a post-graduate certificate course must be taken. Regardless of program type, students must take a number of prerequisite courses including biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, algebra or higher math, human anatomy, and physiology. Once enrolled in an O&P program, students also study biomechanics, gait analysis, kinesiology, pathology, materials science, research methods, and diagnostic imaging. In addition, students learn evaluation and fitting techniques and system designs specific to each discipline.
Residents
CAAHEP's practitioner accreditation standards require a one-year residency experience. Working under the supervision of an ABC-certified practitioner, graduates gain more thorough experience in clinical patient management and fabrication.
Technicians
Technicians support practitioners in providing patient care by fabricating orthoses and prostheses and their components. Education is based on a two-year degree or post-graduate certificate from an NCOPE accredited institution.
CREDENTIALING
Practitioners who successfully fulfill all education requirements of a CAAHEP accredited program and pass the certification examination administered by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics & Prosthetics (ABC) are granted the title of Certified Orthotist (CO), Certified Prosthetist (CP), or Certified Prosthetist-Orthotist (CPO). Technicians who successfully fulfill all education requirements of an NCOPE accredited program and pass the certification examination administered by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics & Prosthetics (ABC) are granted the title of Registered Technician in orthotics and/or prosthetics.
The list above is designed to give an overview of available programs. Detailed information may be obtained by contacting individual institutions. Information may also be accessed on-line through the national organization's website, at www.oandp.com, under the education section.
