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.

Current Residents and Residents Beginning their Residency in 2024

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 in 2024 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.

Will the length of residency change with the new standards?

Residency will be a minimum of 18 months and completion will be based upon attainment of competency which may require more time than the minimum duration.

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, how am I impacted?

You will be unaffected so long as you complete your second residency discipline by November 30, 2027. Completing the second discipline after this date will likely change the ABC exam process you are eligible to pursue.

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 a single certified clinician, 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 after 2027 won’t be an option.

I am currently enrolled in an O&P combined residency program; how does this impact me?

This change will not impact the residency training requirements for any resident who is currently registered in a combined O&P residency program. You may also be able to sit single-discipline or dual-discipline exams depending on when you complete your residency. Please contact the ABC certification team to learn more about specific timelines and options for you.

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. Any site earning initial accreditation moving forward will also be informed of new residency standards being developed at the time the accreditation application is approved.

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 in 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. The number of sites accredited to offer single-discipline residencies will gradually decrease as sites seeking new accreditation or existing sites renewing will be required to operate under the new standards if they are accredited after the new standards are formally implemented in 2025.

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

You will have the ability to enroll in a single-discipline residency so long as it is completed by November 30, 2027. The number of sites accredited to offer single-discipline residencies will gradually decrease as sites seeking new accreditation or existing sites renewing will be required to operate under the new standards if they are accredited after the new standards are formally implemented in 2025. ABC will accept registration for single-discipline written and CPM exams through December 31, 2027.

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 will have the ability to enroll in a single-discipline residency so long as it is completed by November 30, 2027. The number of sites accredited to offer single-discipline residencies will gradually decrease as sites seeking new accreditation or existing sites renewing will be required to operate under the new standards if they are accredited after the new standards are formally implemented in 2025.

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

When you are enrolled at a residency program that is accredited under the new NCOPE residency standards.

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

No, residency will be a minimum of 18 months. 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.

Past Residents

Will there be the ability for single credential individuals to pursue their second discipline?

Yes, but the second discipline residency must be complete by November 30, 2027.

Current NCOPE-Accredited Residency Programs

My facility is only accredited to offer a single discipline residency, will I still be able to host residents?

Pathways are being developed to enable current and future single-discipline sites to participate in residency education.

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 residency program has a current 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 single-discipline residency training and sit the single-discipline ABC exam. Once your facility seeks re-accreditation under the new standards, residents will no longer be eligible to complete a single-discipline residency.

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.

How does this impact our current NCOPE Residency accreditation?

No impact on your current cycle. If you apply for renewal in 2024 for a single discipline pathway, accreditation is granted until November 30, 2027.

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 for submitting required forms and logging case experiences.

Where do I find the new expectations and timelines that are part of 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 residency standards have always set a minimum expectation for residency programs and many residency sites have set expectations higher than those defined in the standards. NCOPE recognizes the importance of training competent and compassionate practitioners able to meet the needs of patients well into the future.

Future NCOPE-Accredited Residency Programs

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.