The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics (ABC) has announced its sponsorship of the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE) Futurity Project, an NCOPE initiative to market and support five new master’s level O&P programs at targeted colleges and universities in the next five years. In addition, the project will promote the establishment of pre-O&P programs at colleges and universities nationwide that can serve as feeder programs into master’s level programs.
The Futurity Project was an outgrowth of an NCOPE and American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (the Academy) Education Summit in 2005. The outcome of that summit and further studies recommended that O&P education transition toward an entry-level master’s program. To meet this goal, NCOPE has retained a marketing and communications firm to develop the strategic plan, the communication strategy, and obtain market research.
“The transition to the master’s degree is an important step in the evolution of the profession and ABC is confident that this initiative will positively impact the profession as well as the patient population,” ABC Executive Director Catherine A. Carter stated in an ABC press release.
