Home >> Credentialing >> Certified Fitter of Therapeutic Shoes

ABC Certified Fitter of Therapeutic Shoes

A certified fitter of Therapeutic shoes is an individual trained and qualified in the provision of non-custom therapeutic shoes and non-custom diabetic multi-density inserts. A certified fitter of therapeutic shoes is competent to practice within the scope of non-custom therapeutic footwear only.

The certified fitter of therapeutic shoes is bound by the ABC Code of Professional Responsibility, which is enforced by a Professional Discipline program. The certified fitter of therapeutic shoes is obligated to support and conform to professional responsibilities that promote and assure the overall welfare of the patient and the integrity of the profession. The timelimited registration is based on participation in the Mandatory Continuing Education program.

With a greater need for competent, reliable, and ethical patient care as it pertains to those who live with diabetes and the symptoms attributed to the disease, it is necessary to hold those responsible to a higher standard.

The fitter of therapeutic shoe certification is awarded as an attestation of competency for the public, those who require orthotic/prosthetic services as a result of diabetes, and those in other health professions. The awarding of an ABC fitter certification provides the certified fitter with an appropriate and meaningful recognition of professional competence.

Applicants for certification are required to complete established educational, experiential requirements.

Scope of Practice

ABC Certified Fitter of Therapeutic Shoes

An ABC certified fitter of therapeutic shoes is an individual trained and qualified in the provision of non-custom therapeutic shoes and non-custom diabetic multi-density inserts. A certified fitter of therapeutic shoes is competent to practice within the scope of non-custom therapeutic footwear only.

The ABC certified fitter of therapeutic shoes is bound by the ABC Code of Professional Responsibility, which is enforced by a Professional Discipline program. The ABC certified fitter of therapeutic shoes is obligated to support and conform to professional responsibilities that promote and assure the overall welfare of the patient and the integrity of the profession. The time-limited certification is based on participation in the Mandatory Continuing Education program.

Eligibility Criteria

1. 250 hours of patient contact which includes fitting of therapeutic shoes

2. An attestation form verifying the shoe fitting experience. This form must be signed off by the candidate's supervisor, a referral source or a coworker who is familiar with the candidates work experience.

3. Completion of an NCOPE approved Therapeutic Shoe Educational Course

4. Successful completion of an ABC administered exam

Approved Therapeutic Shoe Fitter Educational Courses:

Eneslow Pedorthic Institute's Certified Fitter of Therapeutic Shoes
Contact: Sarah Goldberg, C.Ped
Educational Coordinator
470 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10016
212-477-2300 ext. 211

www.eneslow.com

CFS Allied Health Education - Certified Fitter of Therapeutic Shoes course
Contact: Rick E. Sevier, RPOA, C.Ped
BS Technical & Industrial Education
507 West Denny
Catoosa, OK 74015
918-266-3678

www.learnoandp.com

Aetrex's Therapeutic Shoe Fitter Course
(Joint course with the National Community Pharmacist Association)
Contact: Trina Belyea
Marketing Manager
414 Alfred Avenue
Teaneck, NJ 07666
800-526-2739
www.aetrex.com

P. W. Minor Therapeutic Shoe Fitting Course
(Joint course with the National Community Pharmacist Association)
Contact: Cyndee Fitzsimmons, Executive Assistant
P. W. Minor
3 Treadeasy Avenue
Batavia, NY 14020
585-815-0659

National Community Pharmacists Association
1000 Daingerfield Road
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703)683-8200
www.ncpanet.org

ACOR Orthopedics Therapeutic Footwear Fitter Course
(Joint course with the National Community Pharmacist Association)
Contact: Ross A. Marty, CO, C.Ped., OST
Director of Clinical Education
18530 South Miles Pkwy
Cleveland, OH 44128
1-800-237-2267

www.acor.com

Fitter Examinations

Certification Awarded

Fitters who successfully complete the eligibility requirements prescribed by ABC are conferred the credentials of ABC Certified Fitter of Therapeutic Shoes (CFts).

Fees

All applicants are required to submit an application and examination fee in order to become eligible for the Certified Fitter exams.

Certified Fitter of Therapeutic Shoes

Application Fee - $75.00
Examination Fee - $175.00

Annual Renewal Fee - $125.00

Application Forms

Shoe Fitter Certification Application (PDF)

Maintaining Fitter Certification

All ABC Certified Orthotic and Mastectomy Fitters are required to maintain certification by participating in continuing education, adhering to the Code of Professional Responsibility and remitting annual fees.

Mandatory Continuing Education Program

The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics (ABC) has long recognized the need for effective continuing professional education. Continuing education is meant to maintain and develop the quality of care offered by individuals credentialed by ABC, and is the norm in health care professions. Educational activities are designed to maintain, develop, and increase the knowledge, skills, and professional relationships that Certified Fitters use to provide services for the public, thus inherently promoting professional development.

A Mandatory Continuing Education credit is defined as one credit equals one contact hour. The minimum requirements for each five-year registration cycle are as follows:

There are two kinds of opportunities to earn continuing education credit. The first opportunity is through independent, unsupervised educational activities. These include peer interaction, self-assessment activities, small group discussions, journal clubs, teaching, writing, personal presentations, and manufacturer's presentations at a place of business.

The second opportunity is to attend sponsor-based programs. These are often national, regional or state meetings/conventions; seminars or lectures presented by manufacturers that are presented to a group, or other activities that the sponsor has presented to ABC for approval. A complete list of ABC-approved credit opportunities is available on this website under Continuing Education.

Only educational and business programs, whether they are independent or sponsor-based, that relate specifically to the practice of orthotics, prosthetics or pedorthics will be granted credit.

Professional Conduct

Certified Fitters are required to abide by the Code of Professional Responsibility (ABC's professional ethics outline) to maintain good standing. The Code was adopted to promote acceptable standards of moral and professional conduct. Certified Fitters must conduct themselves in a fashion that brings credit to the profession, including if necessary, the exposure of illegal, improper, and/or ethical conduct of others that can assist the board in maintaining the standards of the profession.

Annual Renewal Fees

Certified Fitters must remit annual renewal fees to remain in good standing with ABC. Annual renewal notices are mailed in mid-September and are due on December 1.

Current annual renewal fees are as follows:

ABC Credentialing Program Staff: