You must meet the following education and experience requirements to be eligible to take the ABC orthotic fitter certification exam. For more information, please refer to the. Education. A high school diploma, GED or college degree and. Completion of an approved orthotic fitter pre-certification education course If you received your education in a foreign country, please refer to the for specific eligibility requirements Experience Pathway 1 Pathway 2. Completion of 1,000 hours of orthotic fitting patient care experience obtained either before or after completion of the education course.
Completion of 500 hours of orthotic fitting patient care experience obtained either before or after completion of the education course. Must currently hold a nationally recognized certification in a related allied health profession (e.g., Medical Assistant, Athletic Trainer, Physical Therapist/PTA, Occupational Therapist/OTA, etc.) to apply under this pathway. . Once you have met the education and experience requirements, simply submit your application for approval as a candidate for the orthotic fitter certification exam. How to Apply: You may apply using one of the following methods. or. Complete the (fillable PDF) Required Documentation: You must include the following with your application.
A copy of your high school diploma, GED certificate or college transcript. A copy of the official certificate of completion from your approved orthotic fitter pre-certification course. Your completed verifying your clinical experience, signed by the supervising certified practitioner, a certified and/or licensed orthotic fitter, or a professional referral source. A copy of your current certification or license from a related allied health profession, if applicable.
Retaking the Exam: You can register to retake the exam by using one of the following methods. or. Complete the Submitting Your Application: Please submit your application to ABC by using one of the following methods. Mail: ABC P.O. Box 76100 Baltimore, MD Email: Fax: (703) 842-8516 .
Exam Description The three-hour, multiple-choice exam consists of 150 items designed to measure your knowledge of orthotic fitting. Knowledge assessed on the exam includes basic anatomy, prefabricated orthotic devices, fitting criteria of such devices, ethics and professionalism. Exam Format and Availability The exam is given using computer-based testing (CBT). The exam is offered every other month at over 300 locations nationwide. For a list of testing locations in your area, please Click to view Prometric's video. Examination Resources The development of valid exams begins with a practice analysis that gives a clear and concise definition of the knowledge, skills and abilities needed for competent job performance. Experts have identified the critical job components in the professions of orthotic fittings using a process that includes interviews, surveys, observation and group discussions.
The identifies performance domains for orthotic fitters. Within each performance domain, several identified tasks provide the basis for questions in the examinations. The Practice Analysis also identifies associated knowledge and skills. The also provides a list of examination question references and a recommended reading list to aid you as you prepare for your examination. Examination Preparation ABC has created numerous resources to help you prepare for your ABC Orthotic Fitter certification exam.
Please to access these resources.. Fees: The following fees must be included with your application. Application $150. Examination Fee $200.
Examination Retake Fee $200 Annual Fee (required once certification is awarded): $125 Exam Dates and Deadlines Exam Cycle Application Deadline November 5-10, 2018 September 1, 2018 February 4-9, 2019 December 1, 2018 April 8-13, 2019 February 1, 2019 June 3-8, 2019 April 1, 2019 August 5-10, 2019 June 1, 2019 October 7-12, 2019 August 1, 2019 December 9-14, 2019 October 1, 2019 Exam Locations: The exam is offered every other month at over 300 locations nationwide. For a list of testing locations in your area, please. How do I sign up for a pre-certification course? Registration is handled by the course provider. Please contact them directly for more information.
For more information regarding approved courses, please click I didn’t complete my course before the application deadline, can I still apply? No, you must complete your course either on or before the application deadline. I will not have completed my experience hours by the application deadline, but I will have them by the exam date.
Can I still apply? No, the required number of hours must be completed on or before the application deadline. How much is a pre-certification course? Enrollment fees vary depending on the course. Please contact the course provider for more information. I completed the course back in 2012, does that count? Yes, we accept courses that are completed within five years of the date of your application.
How and where do I obtain the my hours of experience? Your experience can be gained from any business that primarily provides orthotic patient care. A list of accredited facilities can be located using the. If your experience is from a business that is not primarily engaged in orthotic patient care, your experience will be evaluated on an individual basis to determine whether it meets the intent of the requirement.
How do I log my hours? Patient care experience is defined as contact with a patient from the initial assessment to the follow-up care. We recommend that you keep a record of these patient visits. You may also use the as a guideline for your experience. However, you will only need to submit the with your application. What fees do I submit with my application?
The application and exam fees are due when you submit your application. Please note that the application fee is non-refundable. What documents do I submit with my application?
Please include all of the following:. A copy of your high school diploma, GED or college transcript. A certificate of completion from the approved course. The What if I can’t find my high school or college diploma or GED certificate? Unfortunately, we will not be able to approve your application if you cannot submit one of the above documents. I obtained my education outside of the United States.
What documents do I need to submit? You must submit a credential evaluation from the What are examples of professional referral sources?
An appropriately licensed healthcare provider who is a referral source that is familiar with your professional knowledge and skills (i.e., medical doctor, physician, podiatrist, nurse practitioner, etc.). When will ABC notify me of my application status? You will receive notification of your eligibility status within four weeks of receipt of your application. This notification will be sent directly to you via email as well as mailed to your home address.
You can also check your application status by logging in to your. Once my application is accepted, how do I register for the exam?
ABC will send you an email with information on how to register for a specific time, date and location with our testing provider, Prometric. Are there exam prep materials available? Yes, are available, including a test content outline, practice analysis of the O&P profession, exam references and a recommended reading list.
In addition, there are sample written exam questions and information on available exam review courses (provided independently of ABC). What if I can’t find a testing center close to me? Unfortunately, availability at the testing centers is on a first come, first served basis with limited seating. If you are having difficulty finding a location close to you, please contact us at 703-836-7114 ext. What if I can’t make it to the exam? You are provided a thirty-one day cancellation period without incurring a penalty. If you cancel in less than thirty days, you will need to pay a $50 fee. When will I receive my exam results?
You will receive an immediate on-screen preliminary score report when you finish your exam. Your official score report will be provided in four weeks. If I fail my exam, when can I re-take it? You may immediately register for the next available exam cycle. How many times can I take the exam?
When your initial application is approved, you are provided with a three year eligibility window in which you are allowed four attempts at the exam. What happens if I’ve taken the exam more than four times?
If you have failed the exam more than four times or if your eligibility period has expired, you are required to reapply for eligibility. Please reference the for more information. If I have applied for more than one discipline during an exam cycle, can I take all of my exams during the same day and/or cycle? Yes, you are able to take more than one exam during the same day, space and time permitting.
If I passed my exam, when will I receive my certificate? Certificates are mailed six weeks after the conclusion of the exam cycle.
What do I do to maintain my certification? After obtaining certification, you are awarded a five-year certification cycle in which you must accrue continuing education credits and submit an annual fee. for information on orthotic fitter continuing education credit requirements. How much is my annual fee and when is it due? Your annual fee will be $125 and is due by December 1st every year. Your first year fee will be prorated and due upon receipt..
Current BOC COF? Visit BOC's or Profession Overview What is orthotics? Orthotics is the practice of addressing medical conditions of the lower limbs, upper limbs and spinal anatomical structure.
Orthotic devices aid patients in daily living by supporting weakened or abnormal limbs and joints. What does an orthotic fitter do? Pursuant to a physician’s order, an orthotic fitter properly fits, dispenses and adjusts prefabricated orthotic devices. Trained and certified orthotic fitters are integral to the physical and emotional well-being of patients, providing training and instruction on how to properly use and maintain prefabricated orthotic devices.
What is a BOC Orthotic Fitter? BOC Orthotic Fitters (BOC COF) are qualified to provide and/or supervise the assessment, treatment plan development and implementation, follow-up, and practice management of people using prescribed prefabricated orthotics. BOC COFs are recognized professionally as having completed a rigorous education and training program that satisfies industry standards. The provides greater detail regarding the role of a BOC Certified Orthotic Fitter.
Only BOC has an accredited Orthotic Fitter Certification program. BOC is proud to have earned continuous NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies) accreditation by demonstrating the program's compliance with the highest standards in professional certification. NCCA accreditation is evidence of quality and demonstrates both BOC's professionalism and the validity of our credentials.
How to Become a BOC Orthotic Fitter BOC COF candidates will need to:. Meet. Successfully complete the orthotic fitter candidate. Attest to upholding the ethical standards in the, honored by all BOC certificants The contains entry-level course providers that have gone through BOC's Course Provider Approval Program and meet the requirements for the BOC Certified Orthotic Fitter (COF). A comprehensive list of is provided for your reference.
If you are interested in becoming a BOC COF, please consult the for full details on how to become certified. Continuing Education Once you have earned BOC COF credentials, you will need to demonstrate your commitment to professional growth by earning credits. The orthotic field is dynamic and evolving.
Ongoing learning throughout your career is essential to keeping up with the latest technology and process improvements in your profession. You can submit your CEUs online and view your CEU record immediately at, your personal web portal.