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Dual Credential Pathway for Residency and Certification FAQ

ABC and NCOPE are working to lower the barriers that presently exist for entry into the profession and help meet future workforce needs, while maintaining the highest standards of clinical education and certification.

The current educational requirement is a combined prosthetics and orthotics master’s degree. The next step is to advance the residency standards, ensuring future clinicians can care for patients across the full scope of orthotic and prosthetic practice. After the adoption of revised residency standards, the ABC written simulation and clinical patient management (CPM) exams will transition to the dual-discipline format successfully implemented in 2019 for the ABC written exam.

To learn more about ABC’s transition to dual-discipline exams, please CLICK HERE to access the website.

General Questions

With ABC transitioning to combined dual-discipline exams, does that mean residency sites that can only offer one discipline (such as a Children’s hospital that does exclusively orthotics) will no longer be able to take residents?

  • No, sites that have historically trained residents in a single discipline can continue to hold independent NCOPE residency site accreditation and hire residents under the New Standards.  Residents will need to complete training in the opposite discipline at a different accredited site, as the New Standards will require the completion of residency training in both disciplines to be awarded a residency certificate of completion, but nothing prevents a resident from seeking training in each discipline at different sites.  Being trained in a single discipline at two separate sites is referred to as a “2 Site Residency” in the New Standards.

Since training in both orthotics and prosthetics is needed to be awarded a certificate of completion, does that mean all residents will need to do 18 months of residency where they spend 50% of their time focused on orthotic care and 50% of their time focused on prosthetic care?

  • No, the New Standards will not force a single proscriptive approach to residency.  Although the shortest duration of a residency program is 18 months, sites could develop a 24-month combined residency program if the director feels it is more appropriate given the resources and approach to training.  The new standards also allow single sites capable of training residents in both orthotic care and prosthetic care more flexibility.  For example, a site offering both O&P could have the resident focus exclusively on orthotic care for 6 months, then concentrate solely on prosthetic care for 6 months, and spend the final 6-12 months of the residency providing combined O&P care.  The residency standards have always set minimum expectations, but we recognize and support the many sites can set the bar higher.  A residency program where both orthotic and prosthetic care training occurs at single NCOPE accredited residency site is referred to as a “1 Site Residency” under the New Standards. 

I understand that the New Standards are set to be implemented on July 1, 2025; does that mean all existing residency sites need to get reaccredited on that date? 

  • No.  Only brand-new residency sites or former sites that are inactive on June 30, 2025, will be required to come under the new standards immediately when accreditation is sought.  Existing sites will come under the New Standards over multiple years when they seek renewal of accreditation. 

After an existing residency site is renewed under the New Standards, will it be allowed to register residents for a single-discipline residency allowed under the old standards? Yes, so long as the residents begin single discipline training by November 30, 2026, and all single discipline residency programs are complete no later than November 30, 2027.  This will allow persons graduating in 2024 through the Summer of 2025 the opportunity to pursue consecutive single-discipline residency programs and sit the single-discipline ABC CPM and written simulation exams in both disciplines if they begin their initial single-discipline residency no later than November 30, 2025.

Past Residents, Current Residents and Residents Beginning their Residency before July 1, 2025

How are changes to the residency program going to affect me? 

  • The new residency standards will not be implemented until July 2025, so current residents and residents who start their residency training before then will be eligible to pursue their residency training under the current standards and pathways. If you start a residency with a residency program accredited under the current standards you will have until November 30, 2027 to complete single discipline residency programs. If you start a residency with a residency program accredited under the new standards, you will be required to complete both disciplines to successfully fulfill all residency requirements.

What happens to me if I’m enrolled in residency on July 1, 2025 when the New Standards are implemented?

  • If you are an active resident but not yet complete with residency on July 1, 2025, you will finish your residency under the standards in place when you started.  You will complete all the requirements in place on the 1st day of your residency.

I graduated from a CAAHEP-accredited O&P master’s program in the Spring of 2023, started a single discipline residency, and plan to do my second residency in the opposite discipline, will I be impacted?

  • You will be unaffected so long as you complete your second opposite discipline residency by November 30, 2027. 

I will graduate from a CAAHEP-accredited O&P master’s program in 2024, how does this impact me with starting a single discipline residency program?

  • You may start a single discipline residency in 2024, but must complete both your first and second residency disciplines by November 30, 2027, to be a candidate for all current discipline-specific ABC Simulation and CPM exams.

I am currently in a single discipline residency and only want to become certified in a single discipline (CO or CP), how does this impact me?

  • You will have until November 30, 2027, to complete a single-discipline residency and register to sit the current single-discipline ABC exams. Pursuing a single-discipline certification January 1, 2028 or later won’t be an option based on ABC’s timeline.

Can NCOPE tell me if I will be able to take the new combined exams when they first open the application in October of 2026?

I am in a single discipline residency, but wanted to wait several years before pursuing my second residency, how does this impact me?

  • You must start your second discipline residency no later than November 30, 2026, and complete it by November 30, 2027.

Do the sites I’m applying to know about the change in residency?

  • Yes, all established accredited programs/directors were informed in December 2023 that changes are coming to the standards during 2024, and will be implemented in 2025. Information will be available on the NCOPE website, including the final version of the residency standards, once formally approved by the NCOPE Board of Directors.

Does this change how I apply for residency positions and register for NCOPE-accredited residency programs?

  • No, applications will continue to be done through the OPRESCAS system and residents will still submit a registration form to NCOPE to begin their residency training.

 

Residents Beginning Residency July 1, 2025 or Later

I started my CAAHEP-accredited O&P master’s and will graduate in 2025, how does this update impact me?

  • You will have the ability to enroll in a single-discipline residency so long as it is completed by November 30, 2027.  Sites that were accredited prior to the July 1, 2025 implementation date will be allowed to enroll residents in the single discipline programs they were approved for until November 30, 2026, so long as the residency is completed by November 30, 2027.

I only want to pursue a single discipline residency and become certified in one discipline; how does this impact me?

  • You can enroll in a single-discipline residency so long as it is completed by November 30, 2027.  Sites accredited before the July 1, 2025 implementation date will be allowed to enroll residents in the single discipline programs they were approved for until November 30, 2026, so long as the site is actively accredited with NCOPE for the entire duration of the residency program.  Remember to register for the single-discipline exams no later than December 31, 2027, as ABC will not accept registration for single-discipline written simulation or CPM exams after that date. 

I plan on ultimately being certified in both orthotics and prosthetics, but wanted to complete one discipline residency and attain certification before returning for the second discipline, how does this impact me?

  • You can enroll in consecutive single-discipline residencies, but both must be completed by November 30, 2027.  Sites accredited before the July 1, 2025 implementation date will be allowed to enroll residents in the single discipline programs they were approved for until November 30, 2026, so long as the site is actively accredited with NCOPE for the entire duration of the residency program.

When will I be required to complete both disciplines to pursue certification?

  • Any person applying to sit the ABC Orthotist/Prosthetist CPM or written simulation exams must have completed residency training in orthotics and prosthetics starting on Jan 1, 2028.

I want to do my residency at one site that focuses purely on orthotics and one site that focuses purely on prosthetics via the 2-site pathway as described in the 2025 standards.  Can I do this once ABC only allows persons to register for the combined simulation and CPM exams? 

  • Yes, you can pursue training in a single discipline at one site and the opposite discipline at a completely different site.  It is important to recognize that O&P residency via the 2-site pathway can only award a certificate of completion when training is completed at both sites and in both disciplines.  No certificate of completion will be awarded after the resident meets all requirements, MAVs, and competencies at the initial site. 

Will the minimum length of time to complete a residency be reduced?

  • No, the residency will continue to be a minimum of 18 months, although residency sites can define longer program lengths to meet their program’s unique goals and objectives.  Consistent with the current standards, residents cannot complete residency until all competencies are demonstrated, which may require more time than the minimum duration to achieve.

Will the educational requirements to be admitted to a residency program change?

  • No, the requirement will continue to be a CAAHEP master’s level education or the equivalent of a master’s in orthotics and prosthetics for persons who received their formal training outside of the US.

Does this change how I apply for residency positions and register for NCOPE-accredited residency programs?

  • No, applications will continue to be done through the OPRESCAS system and residents will still submit a registration form to NCOPE to begin their residency training.

 

Current NCOPE-Accredited Residency Program Directors and Mentors

My facility is only accredited to offer a single discipline residency; will we still be able to host residents when the new standards are fully implemented?

  • Yes.  Sites with the ability to only train a resident in one discipline will still be able to seek independent NCOPE residency site accreditation. The resident will need to pursue training in the opposite discipline at a different site, which is referred to as a “2-Site Residency” under the 2025 standards.  A residency can only be considered “complete” after all competencies are demonstration, MAVs are achieved, and program goals are met in both disciplines. 

I am a current mentor but am only certified in a single discipline (CO or CP), will I still be able to mentor residents?

  • Yes. Your focused experience is invaluable, and we appreciate having you contribute to the development of the next generation of O&P professionals.

Our current NCOPE residency program has a resident in a single-discipline residency program. Will they need to stop their current residency and re-enroll in a residency program approved to offer both disciplines?

  • No. Residents enrolled in single-discipline residency programs have until November 30, 2027, to finish their training and sit the single-discipline ABC exams.

Our residency program gained accreditation in 2024 for a single discipline and expires in 2027. Can we accept residents for a single discipline during this accreditation cycle?

  • Yes, you can register a single discipline resident until November 30, 2026, but the resident must complete the residency by November 30, 2027.

We want to adopt the new residency standards for our residency program before our current accreditation is set to expire; can we seek accreditation under the new standards early?

  • Once the new standards are formally adopted on July 1, 2025, additional information about how to renew accreditation early will be made available to existing sites.

Will this affect the residency site application fees?

  • NCOPE reviews fees every three years. Resident site application fees were last updated in 2022 and will be re-assessed in 2025.

Will there be a change to the required evaluation forms and documentation submitted in NCOPE Tracker?

  • Changes will be made to align the required forms and documentation with the residency standards after they are formally approved and implemented.

Will residents and directors/mentors still use NCOPE Tracker?

  • Yes, NCOPE Tracker will continue to be used to submit required forms and log case experiences.

Where do I find the new expectations and timelines for the new residency standards?

  • The NCOPE website will be updated throughout the development process to share the most up-to-date information as it is made available.

Will the new standards force us to lower the expectations we define for our residents with hand skills or patient care? 

  • Not at all.  The new assessment tools will enable more in-depth feedback on psychomotor (hand) skills.  NCOPE has no intention of having residency sites lower their expectations or care quality.  The residency standards have always set a minimum expectation for residency programs, and many residency sites hold residents to even higher expectations.  NCOPE recognizes the importance of training capable, competent and compassionate practitioners able to meet the needs of patients today and well into the future.

 

Future NCOPE-Accredited Residency Program Directors and Mentors

We are not currently NCOPE accredited, but had planned on pursuing accreditation soon, how will the new standards impact our ability to host an O&P residency program?

  • Any residency program that applies for initial accreditation between now and the implementation of the new standards on July 1, 2025, will be held accountable to the current standards and eligible to offer all program types/tracks identified in those standards until Nov 30, 2027.

Will the application process change for residency sites to seek NCOPE accreditation?

  • Until the new residency standards are implemented in 2025, NCOPE will maintain its current process. Once new standards are adopted, the information being prompted in the application will change to reflect the new standards, but the main steps to seek initial accreditation or renewal will not be fundamentally different once the new standards are adopted.