Prosthetics & Orthotics schools are becoming popular.
The National Commission on Orthotic & Prosthetic Education (NCOPE) is the accredited body for the field. Schools with allied health education programs throughout the country offer programs in prosthetics and orthotics (P&O). Two types of education are available: prosthetic and orthotic practitioner programs and orthotic and prosthetic technician programs. Several institutions without accreditation also offer P&O programs.
Prosthetic and Orthotic Practitioner Programs - Baccalaureate Degree Programs
Four universities offer Baccalaureate Degree Programs in Prosthetics & Orthotics. These are: California State University (5901 E 7th Street, Building 149, Suite 150, Long Beach, CA 90822), St. Petersburg College in Florida (P.O. Box 13489, St. Petersburg, FL 33733), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (School of Allied Health Sciences, 6011 Harry Hines Blvd., Suite V.5.400, Dallas, TX 75235-9091) and University of Washington (School of Medicine, Division of O&P, 1959 NE Pacific St, Box 356490, Seattle, WA 98195-6490). All institutions have Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs' (CAAHEP) accreditation.
Prosthetic and Orthotic Practitioner Programs - Post baccalaureate Certificate Programs and Master's Degrees
Three schools offer Post baccalaureate Certificate Programs. These are: California State University (see info above), Northwestern University in Illinois (Prosthetic-Orthotic Center, 680 North Lake Shore Drive, Suite 1100, Chicago, IL 60611), and Century College in Minnesota (3300 Century Ave., N. White Bear Lake, MN 55110). Connecticut offers Newington Certificate Program (181 Patricia M. Genova Drive, Newington, CT 06111). All institutions have CAAHEP accreditation.
Three institutions offer Master's Degrees in O&P: Georgia Institute of Technology (MSPO Program, School of Applied Physiology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 281 First Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0356), Eastern Michigan University (106 Welch Hall, Ypsilanti, MI 48197) and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (see info above).
Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician Programs
All Prosthetics & Orthotics Technician Programs are Associated Degree programs and have CAAHEP accreditation. Five institutions offer P&O technician programs: Baker College of Flint (1050 West Bristol Road, Flint, MI 48507), Century College in Minnesota (see info above), Francis Tuttle (12777 N. Rockwell Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73142-2789), Oklahoma State University (1801 E. 4th, Okmulgee, OK 74447) and Spokane Falls Community College in Washington (3410 West Ft. George Wright Drive, Mail Stop 3060, Spokane, WA 99204-5288). Beside Oklahoma State University, all institutions listed offer Certificate Programs as well.
Institutions with the "Candidate for Accreditation" Status
"Candidate for Accreditation" status indicates that Prosthetics & Orthotics programs are close to CAAHEP accreditation. That means that students graduating under this status are not graduates of an accredited program. Two institutions fall into this category: Connecticut's University of Hartford (200 Bloomfield Avenue, 410J Dana Hall, West Hartford, CT 06117) and University of Pittsburgh (Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 5043 Forbes Tower, Pittsburgh, PA 15260).
Tags: CAAHEP accreditation, Prosthetics Orthotics, State University, Certificate Programs, info above
