The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics Inc. (ABC) announced the reinstatement of its certified orthotic/prosthetic assistant certification program.
An ABC-certified assistant is an individual educated and trained to participate in comprehensive orthotic or prosthetic care.
“ABC believes that this individual plays an important role as care extender in current and future business models for the delivery of O&P care and with the encouragement of the profession, we are confident that now is the appropriate time to reinstate this certification program,” D. Deane Doty Jr., CPO, ABC president, stated in a press release.
Certified assistants, with the supervision of an ABC-certified orthotist or ABC-certified prosthetist may perform orthotic or prosthetic procedures and related tasks in the management of patient care. The initial evaluation and formulation of the treatment plan is the responsibility of the supervising orthotist or prosthetist. The certified assistant may also fabricate, repair and maintain orthoses or prostheses.
During the first phase of this reinstatement, applicants must have:
- a high school diploma or GED;
- 2 years of clinical experience gained with the supervision of an ABC-certified orthotist or prosthetist to coincide with the discipline in which the applicant is seeing certification. Applicants seeking dual discipline certification must possess 3 years of clinical experience in both orthotics and prosthetics, with a minimum of 1 year in each discipline; and
- an attestation form verifying the clinical experience signed by the supervising ABC-certified orthotist or prosthetist. Candidates interested in the ABC-certified assistant credential have until Oct. 1, 2011 to apply following the above pathway. Applications and attestation forms will be available on the ABC web site on Dec. 1, 2010.
The candidate application fee is $250. Annual renewal fees for this certification are $125, effective Dec. 1, 2011.
All ABC-certified assistants are bound by the ABC Code of Professional Responsibility and are also required to participate in the mandatory continuing education program.
