O&P Assistant
Continuing Education
You are required to participate in continuing education in order to maintain your ABC credential. Your certification is time-limited and expires every five years. During that five-year period, you must earn the required number of credits for your discipline in order to maintain your certification.
Single Discipline Assistant (COA or CPA)
- A total of 50 credits must be earned during your five-year cycle. All credits may be earned in Category I Science.
- A minimum of 25 credits must be Category I Science.
- A maximum of 25 credits may be Category I or II Business or Category II Science.
Failure to Satisfy Requirements
Certified single discipline assistants who fail to satisfy the continuing education requirement within the five-year cycle must complete 10 penalty credits in addition to the number of credits they are deficient. These credits must be earned within the following calendar year. Of the 10 penalty credits, a minimum of 5 must be Category I Science.
Dual Discipline Assistant (CPOA)
- A total of 60 credits must be earned during your five-year cycle. All credits may be earned in Category I Science.
- A minimum of 30 credits must be Category I Science.
- A maximum of 30 credits may be Category I or II Business or Category II Science.
Extending Your Credential
When extending your credential from COA or CPA to CPOA, the certification date of your most recent credential will determine your five-year continuing education cycle. For example, if your orthotic assistant certification was awarded in 2019 and your prosthetic assistant certification was awarded in 2020, the effective date for your five-year cycle will be 2020.
Failure to Satisfy Requirements
Certified dual discipline assistants who fail to satisfy the continuing education requirement within the five-year cycle must complete 12 penalty credits in addition to the number of credits they are deficient. These credits must be earned within the following calendar year. Of the 12 penalty credits, a minimum of 6 must be Category I Science.
Guide to Maintaining Your Certification
Complete with all of the information needed to stay certified.
Learn About ABC’s Other Credentials
Contact our Team
Brooke Smith
Director, Continuing Education
Directs all aspects of the continuing education policy development and administration, as well as education provider management and precertification course approvals.
Send Brooke an email
Erin Seabrook
Manager, Continuing Education
Manages all aspects of the continuing education department. Primary contact for: continuing education program inquires to include CE statements, change in status requests, certification verifications and education provider assistance.
Send Erin an email
Amanda Aguilar
Continuing Education Coordinator
Primary contact for: all continuing education inquiries
Send Amanda an email
Sara Kelly
Continuing Education Coordinator
Primary contact for: general continuing education inquiries
Send Sara an email
American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics
330 John Carlyle Street, Suite 210, Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Phone: (703) 836-7114 | Fax: (703) 836-0838 | Email: info@abcop.org
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