The National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE) is requesting feedback on proposed entry-level education standards for O&P assistants and on proposed changes to Appendix B of the O&P technician standards. The Assistant Standards Survey  is open through July 12. The  Technician Standards Survey is open through July 17.
The current O&P technician standards were adopted in 2011. The O&P assistant position dates to the 1970s when a forum of O&P leaders identified practitioners’ need for assistants. NCOPE said that there has been a renewed interest in the assistant credential, in part due to the practice environment, and it has been tasked with the creation of standards that define the educational requirements needed to serve as an O&P assistant.
The most recent education conference that discussed and addressed educational standards for the O&P assistant was in August 2016 to gather input from multiple stakeholders while being mindful of the current practice environment. Input from the stakeholder meetings and the NCOPE board of directors resulted in the draft standards.
To complete the Assistant Standards Survey or the Technician Standards Survey, visit the NCOPE website and use the links in the NCOPE News section.
