Orthotist and Prosthetist
- Education
-
Applicants for orthotist and prosthetist licenses must provide proof of successfully completing at least a bachelor's degree from an NCOPE- or CAAHEP-approved school. Official transcripts must indicate the degree and the date it was granted. Transcripts not in English must have an official translation.
- Internship or residency
-
Applicants must complete an internship of at least 1,900 hours in each profession for which a license is sought. Internships or residencies must be NCOPE- or CAAHEP-approved.
- Examination
-
Applicants must pass the written multiple choice and the written simulation examinations administered by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics in each profession for which a license is sought. Verification must be sent directly from or verified directly with the examination agency.
- State license verification
-
Applicants must list all states where they do or did hold credentials. This list must also include when the applicant has applied for a credential, even if a credential was not granted. The jurisdiction where the applicant is or was credentialed must complete and submit the verification form. The jurisdiction must send the completed form directly to the department.
- Personal data questions
-
Each applicant must answer the personal data questions. If there is a positive answer to the professional liability claims history question, the applicant must send an explanation of the nature of the case, data and summary of care given, copies of the original complaint, and the settlement or final disposition. If a case is pending, the applicant must indicate the status.
Continuing Competency
- See continuing competency requirements below
-
Orthotists and prosthetists shall report continuing competency activities every three years. For example: If your birthday is on January 1, 2014, you'll have three years to accumulate the required number of hours. And you'll continue to accumulate and report continuing competency hours every three years thereafter.
Continuing competency activities are broken down into two categories:
- Category one activities are structured activities that are sponsored by nationally or regionally recognized organizations listed in WAC 246-850-150.
- Category two activities are those, which are generally independent and/or unsupervised listed in subsection (2) of WAC 246-850-150.
The rules require that all licensees obtain continuing competency hours as follows:
- Licensed orthotists must accumulate a minimum of 45 hours of continuing competency (CC) hours every three years in the area of orthotics.
- Licensed prosthetists must accumulate a minimum of 45 hours of CC hours every three years in the area of prosthetics.
- Individuals who are licensed in both disciplines must accumulate a minimum of 60 CC hours every three years.
- For individuals licensed in one discipline, a maximum of 18 category two CC hours may be earned in any three-year reporting period.
- For individuals licensed in both disciplines, a maximum of 24 category two continuing competency hours may be earned in any three-year reporting period.
Your annual renewal form will indicate when continuing competency hours are due.
WAC 246-850-150 – classification of categories of continuing competency