The Canadian Association for Prosthetics and Orthotics (CAPO), incorporated in 1954, and the Canadian Board for Certification of Prosthetists and Orthotists (CBCPO), incorporated in 1972, have merged to form Orthotics Prosthetics Canada (OPC). The two organizations have been using the same administrative resources, and the merger, which takes effect January 1, 2015, will eliminate duplicate efforts. Primary roles for OPC include establishing standards for the profession and ensuring ethical conduct. CBCPO will continue to exist as a credentialing body to manage the certification and registration of clinicians and technicians.
“The concept of CAPO and CBCPO coming together has been an initiative that we have looked at for quite a number of years,” said OPC President Dan Mead, CPO(c). “The amalgamation…will have many direct and indirect benefits. Resources will become more efficient and will be more effectively utilized to enhance the core purposes of the new organization.”