Policies and Governance
NCOPE’s bylaws, policies and position statements, and how to raise a concern.
Governing documents
- BylawsNCOPE’s purposes, Board of Directors composition and terms, officers and committees. Amended September 8, 2021.
- Policy and Procedure ManualBoard policies for governance and finance, academic program accreditation with CAAHEP, and residency program services, including accreditation statuses, site visits, complaints and appeals. Amended May 2026.
- NCOPE Position StatementsState licensure, non-compete agreements in residency, and the O&P Alliance open letter on sexual misconduct, harassment and discrimination.
Workplace culture
NCOPE and the O&P Alliance organizations support zero tolerance for sexual misconduct, harassment and discrimination, and for retaliation against anyone who reports it. NCOPE’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct applies the same zero tolerance of harassment to its Board, volunteers and staff.
Raise a concern
Formal residency complaints
NCOPE reviews allegations that an accredited residency program or a registered resident is not complying with NCOPE’s residency standards. Use the program’s internal process first unless there is a valid reason not to. A formal complaint must identify the complainant and include permission to share the complaint with the program, as explained on the form.
The NCOPE staff, Residency Review Committee, and Board of Directors cannot address individual disputes about terms of employment agreements, resident dismissal, or other concerns outside the scope of the Residency Standards.
Academic accreditation complaints
Accreditation complaints about a CAAHEP-accredited academic program go through CAAHEP’s complaint process.
Professional ethics
Use the ABC or BOC complaint process only for concerns alleging that a credential holder violated that organization’s ethics standards, scope-of-practice requirements, or other applicable rules or regulations.
For an ABC credential holder, see ABC’s Professional Ethics Program. For a BOC certificant, see BOC’s complaint policies and procedures.
General questions: Contact NCOPE