Prosthetics & Orthotics:
Bachelor of Science in P&O

Practicing as a Prosthetist and Orthotist

The prosthetist-orthotist is a member of the Rehabilitation health care team, which also includes physicians, surgeons, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and other appropriate specialists. Team members work together with physically challenged individuals to enhance their daily life and increase their functional abilities.

The three groups of prosthetic-orthotic devices which can potentially enter into the rehabilitation of an individual are:

1. prosthetic devices, which replace or substitute for a missing limb or part of a limb
2. orthotic devices, which help with the control of motion and the support of a weakened body segment
3. adaptive devices, which enable the person to perform specific activities.

The prosthetics-orthotics profession has two occupational levels--practitioner and technician. Practitioners provide direct patient care and management, while technicians assist in the fabrication phase. Practitioners work in conjunction with physicians, surgeons, and therapists to evaluate the prosthetic or orthotic needs of the patient. They design the appropriate device, supervise technicians who fabricate them, and evaluate the fit and functional use for each patient. To evaluate function, the prosthetist-orthotist must have a detailed knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology, joint range of motion, muscle strength and human locomotion.

Before designing a prosthesis or orthosis, the prosthetist-orthotist examines a patient to find any conditions that will affect the future success of the orthosis or prosthesis. Following the evaluation, the prosthetist-orthotist will obtain an impression of the affected segment along with the appropriate measurements. A technician fabricates the prosthesis or orthosis, and the prosthetist-orthotist fits the patient and makes changes as necessary. Prosthetists and orthotists are employed in private practices and hospitals. There are also a limited number of opportunities in research positions throughout the country.

NCOPE Residency Requirement

All graduates of the professional phase curriculum must attend an NCOPE accredited residency program to become eligible to take the American Board for Certification, Inc. examinations. Residency programs are one year in length for each discipline and available at various sites throughout the country. Approved programs are listed on the NCOPE Web site at http://www.ncope.com.

National Certification

After completing all requirements and graduating from the program, students are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination of Prosthetists-Orthotists. Certification is administered by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics & Prosthetics, Inc., 330 John Carlyle Dr., Suite 210, Alexandria, VA 223146. Phone: 703-836-7114 or online at http://www.abcop.org

Washington State Licensure

The State of Washington Department of Health instituted a licensure requirement for prosthetists and orthotists in December 1998. All orthotists and prosthetists must be licensed to practice in Washington State. A new graduate entering an NCOPE accredited residency program may practice in Washington State under the supervision of a licensed practitioner. These conditions are subject to change.

For more information, please write to:
Program Manager
Orthotics and Prosthetics Program
PO Box 47870
Olympia, WA 98504

To obtain online information regarding statutes, please go to the website of the Washington State Register, WSR 99-07-122.

To obtain regulations and professional information online, please visit the Washington State Department's Orthotics and Prosthetics Advisory Committee website.

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