The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC) has announced that it certified a record number of examination candidates in 2009.
According to ABC, the group administered 2,596 certification exams across all disciplines in 2009, a 17 percent increase over 2008. A total of 2,278 examination candidates sat for its written, written-simulation, and technician exams, while 318 candidates sat for clinical patient management exams. The overall passing rate for 2009 was 77 percent. Among those tested, ABC credentialed 1,392 practitioners, pedorthists, fitters, and technicians, an increase of 56 percent over 2008.
Written exams for all disciplines were administered three times in 2009 at 250 locations nationwide. The orthotic and prosthetic Clinical Patient Management exams were administered twice, at the University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas; and Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois. The technician exams were again administered at Century College, White Bear Lake, Minnesota; and Spokane Falls Community College, Washington.