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ABC/BOC Unification Discussions: Will They Impact O&P Education?
By Judith Philipps Otto Robin Seabrook, executive director of
the National Commission on Orthotic & Prosthetic Education
(NCOPE): "We support the discussions that the BOC [Board for
Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification] and ABC [American Board for
Certification in Orthotics & Prosthetics] are having. We do
understand from the ABC that its primary pathway is--and will
continue to be--an educational pathway, so that's good for us.
"I think that their discussion and the potential merger is
beneficial to the profession as a whole, to help to alleviate any
semblance of confusion and misunderstanding among all the other
allied health groups and the medical community, caused by a group
as small as O&P having two divergent and very different
certifying agencies.
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Robert Rhodes, CO |
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"If anything, the effect of such a merger on NCOPE
would be to strengthen us, because if we were to have a consensus
conference, it would allow us to include BOC P&O experts&as
well. You want a broad-based mixture of those that have a vested
interest in orthotics and prosthetics to attend any type of
consensus conference on where the profession is heading, how that
direction impacts education, and how we get there
educationally."
Robert Rhodes, CO, chair of the
Education Committee at the University of Michigan O&P Center:
"Since ours is a post-graduate program, I can't see that the
unification process is likely to impact it in any way. I cannot
imagine in my wildest fantasies that ABC is going to lower the
educational level."
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Bryan Malas, MHPE, CO |
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Bryan Malas, MHPE, CO,
NAPOE chair, NCOPE chair, and director of orthotic education at
the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine: "I believe
it will impact O&P education, but to what extent is hard to say
at this time. This all depends on the negotiation between ABC and
BOC. My hope is that we do not discourage people from pursuing the
current educational pathway.
"It's time that we have one certifying body rather than two
separate entities. If we learned anything from the negotiated
rulemaking process, it was that two certifying bodies weakens our
voice and profession. In order to move forward as a profession, we
need to view this as a necessary, positive step."
Donald G. Shurr, CPO, PT, current
NCOPE chair: "Ultimately, I hope that the unification process can
define--not only for our profession but for our consumers and
patients--the basis of the credential as [representing] a
professional, comprehensive provider of orthotic and prosthetic
services.
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Don Katz, CO, FAAOP |
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"I don't believe that unification will make any
difference in the way we look at O&P education or in the way we
design our programs. Probably in the aftermath, there may be some
supplementary kinds of education or experience for certain
individuals, but as far as our curriculum for our schools, I don't
think it will have any impact at all."
Don Katz, CO, FAAOP, AAOP president:
"It's impossible to predict at this point, because if they are
successful--which I hope they will be--one would have to know the
ultimate structure and nature of a single unified certifying board
for O&P before one could speculate on how much it's going to
affect things.
"It is not likely that ABC standards will be lowered. From an
Academy perspective, we think there is a need for a spectrum of
professionals in the provision of O&P care, but we also feel
that the NCOPE standards for both education and residency programs
should be the minimum requirement for professionals providing
direct care."
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Mark Geil, PhD |
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Chris Hovorka, CPO,
Masters Program, Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech):
"In terms of how that's going to impact P&O education while the
negotiations are going on, there will be probably no effect on our
program, and probably no effect on any of the other
NCOPE-accredited programs. But after the negotiations are
completed, we might expect to see opportunities for continuing
education that will be available for all ABC-certified
practitioners and registered technicians, including BOC." Hovorka
speculated that a tiered educational system might be established,
geared to the levels at which individuals want to practice. He also
believes there may be "grandfathering" of BOC practitioners with a
possible termination date on the "grandfather" provisions.
Mark Geil, PhD, Georgia Tech Masters
Program: "It would impact us, because we have to keep a very close
eye on ABC standards since we're a program that is designed to
prepare students for residency and eventual ABC certification. If
those certification standards or categories change, it's something
we need to be very aware of, and we need to make sure our
curriculum is preparing students appropriately." 
Table Of Contents - February 2004
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