Director/Mentor Eligibility, Roles, and Responsibilities

Each residency site appoints one residency program director responsible for the conduct of the entire program. The director and any designated associate directors must meet these qualifications (Standard 4.1):

• Education: Complete an NCOPE/CAAHEP-accredited orthotist and/or prosthetist education program at the bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate certificate or master’s level, or an ISPO-accredited orthotist-prosthetist education program at one of those levels based on a World Education Services (WES) evaluation. A person actively serving as a residency director on July 1, 2025, also meets the education criterion. This provision applies only to education; the other qualifications still apply.
• Credential: Hold ABC or BOC certification as an orthotist and/or prosthetist, or orthotist and/or prosthetist licensure if the state(s) where the program operates has a license act for the profession.
• Experience: hold orthotist and/or prosthetist certification or licensure for at least four years.
• NCOPE training: Complete one of the following within the past three years: the Approved Clinical Mentor (ACM) course, the online Residency Program Development Course, or an online residency refresher course.

A program may identify no more than three associate directors. The director may delegate oversight and administrative duties to associate directors who are NCOPE-recognized mentors at the program’s location (Standards 4.1e and 4.2d).

Residency mentors must meet these qualifications (Standard 4.3):

• Education: Complete an NCOPE/CAAHEP-accredited orthotist and/or prosthetist education program at the bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate certificate or master’s level, or an ISPO-accredited orthotist-prosthetist education program at one of those levels based on a World Education Services (WES) evaluation. A person actively serving as a residency mentor on July 1, 2025, also meets the education criterion. This provision applies only to education; the other qualifications still apply.
• Credential: Hold ABC or BOC certification as an orthotist and/or prosthetist, or orthotist and/or prosthetist licensure if the state(s) where the program operates has a license act for the profession.
• Experience: hold orthotist and/or prosthetist certification or licensure for at least two years.
• NCOPE training: Complete one of the following within the past three years: the Approved Clinical Mentor (ACM) course, the online Residency Program Development Course, or an online residency refresher course.

Mentors must have the knowledge and expertise to supervise learning in the area they mentor, contribute to practice in that area, routinely provide relevant patient care and actively guide the resident’s learning (Standards 4.4–4.5).

• Provide applicants with written information about duty hours, completion requirements, benefits, transportation, extension policies, applicable restrictive covenants and nondisclosure agreements, and any post-residency employment information when inviting them to interview, or when extending an offer if there is no interview (Standard 2.13).
• Make written program requirements and policies available to residents, mentors, directors and other personnel responsible for the program (Standard 2.1). The director or designee reviews policies with each resident and documents that review within 14 days of the residency’s start (Standard 2.16).
• The resident submits the Resident Registration Form at least 14 days before starting, including a separate registration before a second site in a two-site pathway (Standard 2.15).
• The director submits a Resident Status Change Form for a residency extension, a change from the accredited program structure, leave of at least 14 days, or return from leave (Standard 2.17).
• Maintain the site’s accreditation and plan for reaccreditation when required while a resident is registered (Standard 2.18).

• Match supervision to the resident’s training and the complexity of the service. Begin with direct supervision by a qualified, NCOPE-recognized mentor or director in the same building. Real-time audio and video supervision is permitted only under the conditions in Standard 2.3a.2.
• Allow indirect supervision only after the mentor or director documents the required competency for the specific service in NCOPE Tracker. A qualified mentor or director must remain available for immediate consultation throughout the encounter. Follow facility accreditation and applicable state supervision requirements (Standard 2.3).
• Provide ongoing, specific feedback and progressively adjust the resident’s responsibilities and learning activities. Document feedback and improvement recommendations when a resident is not meeting expectations (Standards 3.4 and 3.7a).
• Regularly review reports on competencies, minimum activity volumes (MAVs), patient populations and services. Adjust the clinical schedule and learning experiences so the resident can meet the program’s requirements (Standards 3.6b and 3.7a.7).

• Ensure the resident logs each patient visit in NCOPE Tracker within 14 days, regardless of visit length. Activities without the patient present, such as fabrication or insurance correspondence, do not require case-log entries; technical and practice-management competencies still require assessment (Standard 3.5 and guidance).
• Review, verify and co-sign documentation generated by the resident in a timely manner that meets applicable licensing, facility accreditation and third-party payer requirements (Standard 5.1d).

NCOPE Tracker Resources and Video Tutorials · Director and Mentor Tracker Login

• Ensure evaluations of the resident, residency site and mentor are submitted within 30 days after the quarter ends (Standard 2.20).
• The mentor documents progress toward competencies using the rating scale and specific written comments. All mentors involved during the quarter provide input (Standards 3.7a.3–3.7a.6).
• Meet with the resident specifically to discuss the quarterly evaluation and overall progress. The director or a designated associate director must participate if the primary mentor is neither the director nor a designated associate director (Standard 3.7a.5).
• The resident completes an initial self-assessment within the first 30 days and after each quarter. The resident also evaluates the primary mentor each quarter and each rotation or learning experience at least quarterly (Standards 3.6a and 3.8).

• The director or designated associate director completes the final evaluation at the conclusion of training at the site. A mentor who is not a director or designated associate director cannot complete it (Standard 3.7b and guidance).
• Hold a live discussion with the resident during the final week at the site. If the director was not the primary mentor, the primary mentor(s) also participate. Incorporate input from all mentors involved in the resident’s training (Standards 2.21a and 3.7b).
• Submit the Final Evaluation of the Resident Form within 30 days after the resident’s final day at the site (Standard 2.21b). A two-site pathway requires a final evaluation at the end of training at each site.

• Document attainment of the competencies required by the 2025 standards and monitor the resident’s progress toward the MAVs and required experiences. Use the applicable NCOPE Tracker assessments and Appendices A and B to identify the required competencies, patient populations, procedures and activity volumes.
• For postgraduate residents, the primary mentor or director submits the Evaluation of the CAAHEP-Accredited Education Program by the Employer Form during the first 12 months of training. The resident submits the corresponding Graduate Form within the first 12 months (Standard 3.9).
• Monitor clinical- or research-track activities and the required professional activity. Follow the timing and deliverables for the resident’s pathway in Standards 3.10–3.12 and Appendix D.

• The director and resident maintain independent copies of records related to residency progress, including forms submitted by the resident, mentor or director (Standard 3.6c). Download and retain copies of completed Tracker forms.
• Maintain secure records of the resident’s application, acceptance letter, documented acceptance of program policies and deliverables for at least three years after the residency ends, or longer when institutional policy or law requires (Standard 2.24).

The director oversees a formal annual program evaluation and implements the improvements it identifies (Standards 4.2a–4.2b). Include:

• A review of recruitment methods.
• End-of-program input from residents who complete training.
• Feedback from resident evaluations of mentors and learning experiences.
• Mentor input on program improvement.
• Documented improvement opportunities and plans for program changes.

Residency Program Annual Report (RPAR)

Document mentor appointment and reappointment decisions at accreditation application. Ensure additional mentors meet the eligibility requirements and provide supporting education and NCOPE training documentation.

Use the forms below to add or remove a mentor:

• Add a Director or Mentor — submitted by the program director or a designated associate director; mentors cannot add themselves.
• Remove a Mentor

Changing the program director: notify NCOPE at residency@ncope.org. The incoming director must meet the director qualification requirements. If the incoming director is new to the site and is not currently associated with its accreditation, also submit the Add a Director or Mentor form.

• For research-track residents, research advisors must meet the research ethics training, publication or journal-service, presentation and dedicated-time requirements in Standard 4.6.
• Other professionals may contribute to training after the director or designated mentor assesses the resident’s readiness and selects the educational objectives and activities. Obtain their input for quarterly evaluations. Qualified mentors remain responsible for direct supervision; people who do not meet director or mentor requirements cannot receive NCOPE Tracker access (Standard 4.7 and guidance).