Effective July 1, 2018, the minimum education requirement for admission to an O&P residency program will be a master’s degree in orthotics and prosthetics, according to a press release.
The board of directors of the National Commission of Orthotic and Prosthetic Education recently approved the change to its residency program. According to the release, the change was part of an effort to assure that standards for residency programs are compatible with the coming eligibility requirements approved by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics.
Effective Jan. 1, 2020, individuals seeking certification exams from the ABC must first have a master’s degree in O&P.
Individuals with a bachelor’s degree in O&P, a post-baccalaureate certificate or a foreign education equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in O&P must enter NCOPE residency no later than June 30, 2018 in order to complete the program by the end of 2019 and apply for ABC certification.
Those who plan to extend their credential in the future or travel to the United States to pursue O&P residency and certification are encouraged to obtain a residency position by that time, according to the release.
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