ABC's Certified Orthotist an​d/or Prosthetist Scope of Practice ​details the specific functions of certified practitioners. This includes patient assessment, formulation of a treatment plan, implementation of a treatment plan, follow-up and practice management.  

Additionally, certified practitioners are required to support and conform to the ABC Code of Professional Responsibility which promotes and assures the overall welfare of the patient and the integrity of the profession.​

​The International Society for Prosthetics ​and Orthotics (ISPO) ​has awarded ABC and the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE)​ Category I recognition. 

The Category I recognition validates the ABC/NCOPE pathway for its Certified Prosthetist Orthotist certification program. With this recognition the ABC/NCOPE CPO pathway is recognized throughout the world as having met the highest international educational standards in existence today. ABC is the only credentialing body in the United States to receive Category I recognition from ISPO.  

​Effective January 1, 2020, we will revise the eligibility criteria for the orthotist and prosthetist credentials to a master's degree in orthotics and prosthetics from a CAAHEP accredited educational program. Individuals who graduated from a CAAHEP-accredited bachelor's or certificate program and who have not completed their residency, you have until December 31, 2019, to complete your residency and submit a certification application to ABC. Please contact certification@abcop.org or call 703-836-7114 if you have any questions.

You must meet the following eligibility requirements to be eligible to take the ABC practitioner certification exams. Please refer to the ABC Practitioner Book of Rules and Candidate Guide ​for specific eligibility requirements.

Single Discipline Pathway (Education and Clinical Residency) 

Education

• A bachelor's degree or higher in orthotics and prosthetics from a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)​ accredited program or 

• A bachelor's degree or higher in any major along with a post-graduate orthotics or prosthetics certificate from a CAAHEP accredited program or

• A foreign degree equivalent to a bachelor's degree or higher in orthotics and prosthetics  or

• A foreign degree equivalent to a bachelor's degree or higher in any major along with a post-graduate orthotics and prosthetics certificate from a CAAHEP accredited program

Clinical Residency

• ​Completion of a National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE) accredited residency program. For more information, please refer to the ABC Practitioner Book of Rules and Candidate Guide.

NEW Combined Discipline Written Examination Pathway

This pathway is for eligibility for the Combined Orthotic and Prosthetic Written Examination only.  Completion of an NCOPE acredited residency is required for eligibility for the Simulation and Clinical Patient Management (CPM) examinations.  For more information regarding this pathway, please visit our FAQ section. 

 Education

• A master's degree in orthotics and prosthetics from a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)​ accredited program.

​Once you have met the education and clinical residency requirements, simply submit your application for approval as a candidate for the practitioner certification exams.  For more information regarding the application process, please refer to the ABC Practitioner Book of Rules & Candidate Guide.

How to Apply:  You must apply onlin​e and register for at least one of the three exams.  The exams may be taken in any order.  Please read the instructions carefully before proceeding to the next section in the application.​

Click here to apply under the single discipline pathway ​, which requires completion of an NCOPE accredited residency program.

Click here to apply for the new combined discipline written examination only, which requires completion of a masters degree.

Required Documentation:  The following documents may be uploaded to your account or emailed to certification@abcop.org 

• Official bachelor's or master's degree transcript 

• O&P program certificates (if applicable, include your official transcript/certificate from your O&P certificate program)

• A World Education Service (WES) credential evaluation (only applicable if you received your education in a foreign country.) 

Retaking an Exam or Registering for an Additional Exam:  You may register to either retake or sign up for an additional exam by using the online application​.

You are required to pass all three exams which evaluate your knowledge and clinical aptitude in orthotic and prosthetic practice. The exams are independent of one another and may be taken in any sequence. 

Exam Descriptions 

Written Multiple Choice Exam
The three-hour, 165 question, multiple choice exam assesses your knowledge of patient and practice management. Knowledge assessed on the written exam includes anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, disease process, pathologies, material science, ethics and professionalism.

Simulation Exam
The three-hour interactive exam uses seven simulated case scenarios to test your analytic and clinical problem solving skills. The cases include topics such as prescription criteria, device recommendation, technical implementation and follow-up protocols.

Combined O&P Written Multiple Choice Exam
The three and a half hour, 200 question, multiple choice exam assesses your knowledge of patient management. Knowledge assessed on the exam includes anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, disease process, pathologies, prescription criteria, material science, ethics and professionalism.

Clinical Patient Management (CPM) Exam
There are three hands-on practical assessments​ of your knowledge and skills through direct examiner and patient model interaction in a clinical environment. You must perform specific tasks while demonstrating and describing the orthotic or prosthetic recommendation, fitting criteria, patient instructions and follow-up plans involved in the provision of care.   

​Exam Format and Availability 

Written and Simulation Exams
The written and simulation exams are given using computer-based testing (CBT). The written and simulation exams are offered every other month at over 300 locations nationwide. Please click​ ​h​ere for a list of testing locations in your area.

Click to view Prometric's ​​What to Expect on Test Day​​ video​.​​​

CPM Exam
The CPM hands-on practical exam is offered three times at the ABC Testing Center in Tampa, FL.

Examination Preparation
ABC has created numerous resources to help you prepare for your ABC practitioner certification exams. Please click here ​to access these resources​.​

Fees:  The following fees are required for each discipline 

Single Discipline Pathway

Combined Discipline Written Examination Pathway

Annual Fee (required once certification is awarded): $275

Written a​nd Simulation Exam Dates and Deadlines

Exam Locations: The exams are offered at over 300 ​locations nationwide. Please click here for a list of testing locations in your area.

Clinical Patient Management (CPM) Exam Dates and Deadlines

Exam Location:  The CPM exams will be held at the ABC Testing Center in Tampa, FL.

• ​​Single Discipline Pathway (CO or CP) FAQs​

• Combined Discipline Written Exam Pathway​ (CPO) FAQs​​​