The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics, Inc. (ABC) will be implementing a 1,000 hour pedorthic patient care requirement for all candidates seeking to become a Certified Pedorthist (C.Ped.).
Effective March 2, 2009, pedorthic exam candidates will be required to possess a minimum of 1,000 hours of patient care experience. This experience must be obtained in a pedorthic patient care facility prior to becoming eligible to sit for the ABC exam. The intent of the new patient care experience is to help provide students with practical application of the knowledge, skills and competencies gained during their educational program.
“Having the pedorthic experience requirement ensures the public that all ABC Certified Pedorthists have met the highest certification standards out there today,” said Robert S. Lin, CPO, FAAOP, president of ABC’s board of directors. “Practical experience is a necessary component of training to become a contemporary C.Ped. We believe that practical experience, coupled with the requirement to complete a pedorthic education course, create the proper foundation for an individual to become a successful and competent patient care provider. ”
Experience may be gained prior to or after completion of an approved pedorthic education course.
Cathy Carter, ABC’s Executive Director, provides details on the experience requirement:
“ABC recognizes that pedorthic care is provided in many different types of settings, including traditional comprehensive pedorthic patient care facilities (clinical and/or retail), orthotic and prosthetic patient care facilities, podiatry offices, pharmacies and other retail settings. Since providing footwear is an important part of pedorthics, individuals can meet a portion of the 1,000 hours of experience (up to 250 hours) through work consisting of the provision of non-prescription devices. However, since certified pedorthists routinely interact with patients with significant pathologies and are responsible for evaluation, formulation of a treatment plan and implementing that treatment plan, the majority of that experiential requirement should be providing this type of care. As such, the focus of the work experience should be on providing a range of pedorthic devices and services that addresses a medical condition diagnosed by a prescribing professional. The applicant’s work experience will be documented on the ABC application form and attested to through a letter of recommendation from a supervisor, ABC certified colleague or appropriate referral source.”
“ABC views all of our credentials in light of their defined scope of practice,” continues Carter. “When ABC awards a credential, it is stating that the credentialed individual has met the educational, training and examination requirements associated with that credential. This in turn communicates to the public that this individual is competent to provide safe and effective patient care within their stated scope of practice. If that scope of practice allows for an individual to provide a range of comprehensive patient cares services, then the work experience requirement should reflect similar types of experiences.”
The new prerequisite will not be in effect for those individuals applying by March 1, 2009 for the Spring exam cycle. The first group required to provide documentation of their 1,000 hours will be those candidates interested in applying for C.Ped. certification by the June 1, 2009 deadline. At that time, candidates will also have to submit two letters of recommendation from pedorthic referral sources, employers or colleagues in the orthotic, prosthetics & pedorthic professions. Letters of recommendation must attest that the applicant has completed 1,000 hours of experience and conducted such care in a professional manner.
This new certification requirement does not affect those currently certified by ABC as a C.Ped.