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Hot TopicsPractitioner Licensing
The debate about licensing requirements for prosthetists,
orthotists, and pedorthists is heating up with Pennsylvania's
HB-2015 at the center. Some practitioners say this particular bill,
introduced in November of 2007, does not go far enough.
The bill's requirements for licensure include possession of a
high school diploma or its equivalent; completion of formal
training, including but not limited to any hours of classroom
education and clinical practice established and approved by a
prosthetic, orthotic, and pedorthic credentialing organization
recognized by the National Organization for Competency Assurance
(NOCA) and accredited by the National Commission for Certifying
Agencies (NCCA); completion of a qualified work-experience program
or internship in prosthetics, orthotics, or pedorthics; successful
completion of all examinations that are required for certification
by a prosthetic, orthotic, or pedorthic credentialing organization
recognized by the NOCA and accredited by the NCCA; and the
fulfillment of all educational and training requirements consistent
with those required for certification by a prosthetic, orthotic,
and pedorthic credentialing organization.
Some practitioners said the bill as written does not answer the
basic questions of why a licensure bill would be wanted in the
first place, stressing that patient advocacy should be first and
foremost.
"As read, this bill amounts to a possibly very expensive
certificate to hang on your wall, without providing the patients of
Pennsylvania any assurance of competency," wrote one
practitioner.
What do you think? What should the requirements be to achieve a
prosthetic, orthotic, or pedorthic license? Send your opinion to press@opedge.com
Prosthetics and Orthotics Day
A question was raised asking if there is a recognized day for
prosthetic and orthotic awareness. After all, there's a day, week,
or month honoring just about everything and everybody--even potato
chips have a day set aside (March 14). Though individual
organizations have held prosthetic and orthotic awareness events,
there currently is no nationally or internationally recognized day
of recognition.
Irtaza Kazmi, MHA, BPOS, MNAPO, is gauging interest in the push
for a world day of recognition for the profession. He has posted a
poll aiming to determine whether or not and OP&P day is
warranted at www.oppak.tk/ 
Table Of Contents - May 2008
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