Future Resident FAQ
Updated to reflect the NCOPE Residency Standards and Guidelines implemented July 1, 2025.
Orthotic & prosthetic residency training is in the middle of a planned transition. As of the 2025 NCOPE Residency Standards, a resident must complete training in both the orthotic and prosthetic practice to be awarded an NCOPE certificate of residency completion. This transition was done to harmonize with ABC’s plan to transition to only offer combined orthotic & prosthetic clinical patient management (CPM) and written simulation exams beginning January 1, 2028.
ABC’s transition to a combined orthotic & prosthetic format for the CPM and written simulation exam does not mean that residency training can only occur at a site capable of training residents in both orthotic & prosthetic practice. The 2025 Standards deliberately recognize two equally valid pathways to earn a certificate of completion: a 1-Site Residency, completed at one site accredited to train residents in both orthotic & prosthetic clinical practice; and a 2-Site Residency, completed across two accredited resident sites focusing on a single area of practice at each. The 2-site pathway was integrated into the Standards specifically so that clinics with deep expertise in one area of practice remain part of residency education — and so that residents can benefit from that expertise.
Understanding the 2025 Standards
Do I have to be trained in both orthotic and prosthetic management?
Yes. Under the 2025 Standards, an NCOPE certificate of residency completion is issued only after you have met all residency program requirements, demonstrated all competencies, and achieved all minimum activity volumes (MAVs) in both the orthotic and prosthetic practice.
You do not have to complete both practice areas at the same site. The Standards define two pathways, and they are both valid pathways to residency completion pursuing training via the 1-Site Residency at a single accredited residency site capable of traing residents in both orthotic & prosthetic practice or a 2-Site Residency where the resident receives focused training in a single area of practice at two different accredited sites.
What is a 1-Site Residency?
A 1-Site Residency is completed at a single NCOPE-accredited residency site that is approved to train residents in both orthotic & prosthetic practice. That site provides all of the experiences you need to achieve every competency and MAV.
A 1-Site program might blend orthotic and prosthetic care throughout, or designate certain days for each, or run focused blocks — for example, six months of orthotic care, then six months of prosthetic care, then six to twelve months of combined care. The residency program director defines the structure and curriculum for the accredited residency program.
What is a 2-Site Residency?
A 2-Site Residency is a single residency program in which training occurs across two separate NCOPE-accredited residency sites, with you focusing on one practice area at each site. Think of it as one residency with two chapters, not two residencies.
This pathway lets you spend a sustained, immersive block of time inside a clinic that concentrates on one area of practice. These facilities are often centers for excellence that do high-volume specialized care heavily focused on orthotic or prosthetic management. Long-standing NCOPE-accredited residency sites embedded at these centers for excellence can participate in the 2-site pathway to provide essential training to future orthotic & prosthetic professionals.
How it works:
- You submit a resident registration form at least 14 days before your start date at the initial site.
- You demonstrate all required competencies and meet all MAVs for the enrolled practice area at the initial site for a minimum of nine months.
- You submit a resident registration form at least 14 days before your start date at the second site.
- You demonstrate all required competencies and meet all MAVs for the opposite area of practice at the second site for a minimum of nine months.
- A single certificate of completion is awarded for orthotic & prosthetic residency recognizing the contributions of both sites.
With a 2-Site Pathway, Do I Need to Know the 2nd Site When I Register for my 1st Site ?
When pursuing a 2-Site residency, you do not need to know the 2nd site you will rotate through when you register for the initial site. More often than not, a 2-Site resident will not know the 2nd site until they near the end of their training at the initial site.
What is the advantage of training at a site that focuses on one area of practice?
Depth. A clinic that concentrates on orthotic management, or on prosthetic care, tends to see a higher volume and a wider range of complexity within that area of practice than a general practice does. For a resident, that can mean:
– Exposure to cases you might otherwise never see. Centers of excellence attract complex referrals — the unusual presentations, the revisions, the patients other clinics send onward.
– Mentors who work at the edge of their practice area. You are learning from clinicians whose full professional attention is on the care you are training in that day.
– Faster, more confident accumulation of MAVs in that area of practice, because the caseload is there.
– A well-developed teaching culture — established protocols, refined techniques, and a team that has taught this material many times.
Then you do it again, in the opposite area of practice, at a site with its own depth. You finish having been immersed in two strong practices, with two mentor teams, two patient populations, and two sets of clinical habits to draw on.
A 1-Site Residency offers different strengths — continuity with one team, and the chance to integrate orthotic and prosthetic thinking on the same patients over time. Neither is better in the abstract. The right answer is the one that matches the training you want and the sites available to you.
How long is an O&P residency?
The minimum term is 18 months and the maximum term is 36 months. Any duration beyond the 18-month minimum must be set in three-month increments. Most residency program terms are set to 18 or 24 months depending on the currriculum structure.
The minimum is a floor, not a finish line. A residency is not complete when the time has elapsed — it is complete when you have demonstrated every required competency, achieved every MAV, and met all program requirements. Some residents need more than the minimum, and sites may define longer programs to meet their own goals and objectives.
Finding a Residency
How should I apply for a residency position?
Any residency program that gained their initial accreditation or renewed their accreditation on or after 7/1/2017 is required to accept applications using OPRESCAS. The only exception is Hanger Clinic, who has a well-documented process listed on their National Residency Program page.
Should I look for a 1-Site or a 2-Site Residency?
Both pathways lead to the same certificate of completion and the same exam eligibility. This is a question of fit, not of quality.
Remember that the goal of an NCOPE residency program is to create a real-world learning environment where competency can be achieved. A residency program is not automatically marked complete when the minimum amount of time has passed — the resident must demonstrate competence for all required interventions and meet all requirements.
Factors to consider:
– Patient populations at the site or sites, and whether they will get you to the required MAVs in both orthotic and prosthetic practice
– Your prior experiences in O&P and your relative abilities at the time you graduated O&P school
– Depth versus integration. A 2-Site Residency immerses you in a clinic built around one area of practice, then does the same in the opposite area, so you learn each from clinicians who do it all day. A 1-Site Residency keeps you with one team throughout and lets you integrate orthotic and prosthetic thinking on the same patients over time. Both produce capable O&P clinicians.
– The sites actually available to you. Some of the strongest teaching practices in O&P concentrate on one area of practice. Do not pass over an excellent orthotic or prosthetic program because it cannot offer both — pairing it with a second site is a recognized pathway.
– State licensure requirements, if you intend to practice in a state with an O&P licensing act
Is there anywhere I can go to learn more about OPRESCAS?
Yes. The OPRESCAS Applicant Information Portal has additional resources including details about individual residency programs posted.
I cannot see a residency program on OPRESCAS, does that mean they are not taking residents right now?
All programs that have applications open on OPRESCAS now or have programs configured to accept applications in the future will be visible using the OPRESCAS Applicant Portal. If a site is not visible but is interested in seeking applications, the residency program director or the primary OPRESCAS WebAdMIT administrator is welcome to contact the NCOPE OPRESCAS Team for assistance
Is there a list of NCOPE accredited residency programs?
Yes. Please visit the NCOPE Residency Program Directory page. It is updated each morning at 5:00 AM EST.
Are all programs listed on the NCOPE Residency Program Directory taking residents this year?
No. Residency programs are accredited for a period of 3 years and not required to host a resident each year. To view which residency programs are actively seeking residents, please access OPRESCAS.
I have identified a patient care facility where I would like to potentially complete a residency, but they are not in the NCOPE directory. How do they become accredited?
We have created a brief informational brochure on hosting a residency program and listed the eligibility requirements on our website. If the clinicians or administrators at the patient care facility would like to get in touch with the NCOPE staff directly, they may do so via phone or email.
Is there somewhere I can look to find O&P patient care facilities that could potentially host a residency program that are not yet accredited?
NCOPE requires that the patient care facility be accredited by either the American Board for Certification or Board of Certification. Both organizations have directories that can be queried.
Is there a way for me to see the ratings previous residents have given the residency site regarding the effectiveness of the program and mentoring?
Residency programs are given the data from the resident’s evaluation of the residency program forms and they reserve the right to decide whether or not to make that information available. The programs are required to apply for renewal of accreditation every 3 years and resident feedback on the program’s effectiveness is considered when determining whether or not the site should be allowed to continue hosting resident practitioners.
Do state licensing laws affect the way a residency program is administered if the program is in a state with an O&P licensing act?
It depends on the state, but yes the state licensing laws can potentially affect the way a residency program operates including the resident’s supervision and autonomy. Please visit ABC’s interactive state licensure map to identify each state’s licensing info and resources. Prospective residents are encouraged to become familiar with state license requirements and their potential impact on their residency education.
Starting a Residency
When should I submit the Resident Registration Form?
At least 14 days prior to your residency start date.
If you are completing a 2-Site Residency, a separate resident registration form is required for each site — one submitted at least 14 days before your first day at the initial site, and another at least 14 days before your first day at the second site.
The registration form is asking about the "Residency Site-ID" and I need assistance finding that info?
All residency sites have a residency site-ID and all active primary residency sites are listed on the Residency Program Directory. If you will be working as a resident out of a satellite office for a company, please note you need to identify the primary residency site listed in the directory. For guidance on which location is the primary site, please contact the residency director.
How soon after I finish O&P school can I start my residency program?
The residency program start date can be as early as the day aftery a CAAHEP accredited education program diploma is dated.
What transcripts / proof of education do I need to submit with my registration?
Official transcripts from the institution where the O&P master’s degree program was completed (including any consortium institutions, for example Century College/Concordia University) are required. Undergraduate transcripts are not needed. Information on how to submit electronic or hard copies of official transcripts is listed in the Residency Program Registration Form. Electronic transcripts must be directed to info@ncope.org and sealed official transcripts can be mailed to the contact address listed HERE.
What forms of payment does NCOPE accept for registration fees?
Credit card and payment by check/money order are both accepted. To make an immediate payment by Credit Card, please visit: Residency Services Payment Portal
Who is responsible for paying the residency registration fees?
This fee is often paid for by the employer, but not always. Discuss this with your future residency program director.
Is payment due at the time the registration form is submitted?
Payment by credit card is due at the time of registration. Payment by check/money order must be submitted prior to or at the time registration occurs.
If I am starting a residency in a licensure state, what must I do?
Residents are encouraged to review the state’s licensure requirements and identify what the state may require of you, in order to start your residency program. Access ABC’s interactive state licensure map to review details about each state’s requirements. Note, for residents registering in the state of Florida or Pennsylvania, NCOPE will inform the Florida Board of Orthotists & Prosthetists or the Pennsylvania Department of State but it is the responsibility of the resident to perform any additional steps to ensure they hold appropriate licensing and recognition by the state in order to start the residency. Please note that the licensing agency reserves the right to shift the start date later than the intended start date provided to NCOPE. Notify the NCOPE Residency Staff immediately if the start date issued by the state license agency differs from the start date NCOPE identifies on your registration confirmation letter.
I was asked to sign a non-compete agreement, is that allowed?
NCOPE cannot regulate labor laws, and their relevance and application depend on the specific location where they are held. NCOPE fundamentally does not support non-compete agreements, but cannot forbid their use — that falls outside our scope as an educational accreditor.
The 2025 NCOPE Residency Standards do require that restrictive covenants and nondisclosure agreements, where applicable and legal in the clinic’s area of operation, be disclosed at the time the invitation to interview is extended or at the time an offer is extended — not after the residency begins.
May I fax in a copy of the registration form?
NCOPE only accepts online electronic submissions of the Residency Program Registration Form. Scanned of faxed copies of the form will not be accepted.
Looking for information not addressed on this FAQ page? Try searching the NCOPE Knowledge Base using the search field to the right or below this text.
To learn about upcoming changes, please refer to the Dual Credential Pathway for Residency and Certification FAQ.