Gov. Tom Corbett recently signed into law House Bill 48, which amends the Medical Practice Act, adding definitions and providing for licensure of prosthetists, orthotists, pedorthists and orthotic fitters.
Licensure qualifications for prosthetists and orthotists include having at least 4 years of education and a minimum of 2 years of training or work experience in either prosthetics or orthotics. Pedorthists should complete a board-approved entry-level pedorthic education program and have a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised patient fitting experience for licensure. For orthotic fitters, a successfully completed board-approved entry-level education program specific to orthotic fitting and a minimum of 1,000 hours of documented patient care for orthotic fitters is required for licensure.
Candidates for licensure should fulfill all education and training required for prosthetic, orthotic, pedorthic and orthotic fitting certification; pass the certification examinations and receive certification by a credentialing organization recognized by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies and approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine.
Licensure is valid for 2 years. Term of license, treatment requirements, biennial license renewal, orthotic fitter scope of practice and liability insurance coverage are also included in the bill.
