Education
Orthotic and prosthetic education provides the foundation necessary to allow individuals to provide the highest quality of clinical patient care. Contemporary orthotists and prosthetists provide more than a device; they provide clinical services that include initial evaluation, development and implementation of a treatment plan and follow-up care to the patients they serve.
ABC certified practitioners have a strong science background that incorporates courses in biology, physics and chemistry as well as formal instruction in biomechanics, kinesiology, pathomechanics, material science and gait analysis. To be certified by ABC under the traditional pathway a practitioner must have completed a bachelor's degree in orthotics and prosthetics or a bachelor's degree in another field and a post-graduate certificate program in orthotics and prosthetics. These stringent educational requirements help ensure quality patient care.
The education requirements for ABC practitioner certification are the only orthotic and prosthetic educational standards recognized by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). These Standards and Guidelines for an Accredited Educational Program for the Orthotist and Prosthetist are the minimum standards of quality used to accredit programs that prepare individuals to enter the profession of orthotics and prosthetics. Accreditation by CAAHEP is in cooperation with the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE) which accredits the orthotic and prosthetic clinical residency program. The Standards and Guidelines serve as the basis for education and clinical residency requirements established by ABC for individuals seeking to pursue a career as an orthotist or prosthetist.
For more information about education requirements, visit our Credentialing Page.
If you are interested in how practitioners continue to grow their education and stay current after certification, visit our Continuing Education Page.
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