Orthotist/Prosthetist FAQs

If you have a master’s degree in orthotics and prosthetics from a CAAHEP accredited program, you are eligible.

No. You may apply online for the combined O&P written exam immediately after graduation. You can take this exam during, or after, your residency. Check the application deadlines for your desired exam cycle.

You may apply for eligibility up to six months before your residency end-date, but your application will not be approved until your residency is marked complete by NCOPE.  Once approved, you will receive a three-year eligibility period for these exams.​

If you are seeking to be certified as both a prosthetist and an orthotist, you will need to submit three, separate applications to become eligible for:

• the combined O&P written exam
• the orthotic simulation and CPM exams*
• the prosthetic simulation and CPM exams*

 *only eligible after completing the related discipline residency

You have up to fourteen days to apply after the application deadline. You will be required to pay a non-refundable $100 late fee.

Please allow up to four weeks for your application to be processed. We will send you a notice of your eligibility status via email. You may also check your application status by logging in to your My ABC account.

We will defer your exam fees to the subsequent cycle. If we do not receive the required documents by the deadline for the next cycle, your application will be denied, and a refund of your exam fee(s) will be issued.  It is your responsibility to reapply for eligibility with the required fees.

Both the application and exam fees are due with your application. All applications and payments must be submitted online.  The application fee is non-refundable.

Availability at the testing centers is on a first come, first served basis. If you are having difficulty finding a location near you, please contact us at certification@abcop.org.

Test Center Appointments

• You can cancel your test center appointment up to 48 hours prior to your scheduled time.
  
• If you cancel less than 48 hours of your appointment, you will forfeit your entire exam fee.
  

Remote Proctoring Appointment

• You can cancel your remote proctored appointment up to 24 hours prior to your scheduled time.
  
• If you cancel less than 24 hours of your appointment, you will forfeit your entire exam fee.

You will forfeit your exam fee and be required to re-register for the next available cycle.​ ​

Once your application is approved, you have a three-year eligibility window in which you are allowed four attempts at the exam.

for the next available exam cycle. 

Once your application is approved, you have a three-year eligibility window in which you are allowed four attempts at the exam.

If you have failed an exam four times or if your eligibility period has expired, you must reapply for eligibility. Please reference the ABC Practitioner Candidate Guide for more information.

If you have a Master’s degree in orthotics and prosthetics from a CAAHEP accredited program and completed your residency for that discipline (orthotics or prosthetics), if you are eligible.

No, you must complete your residency prior to taking any single discipline exams. 

You may apply for eligibility up to six months before your residency end-date, but your application will not be approved until your residency is marked complete by NCOPE.  Once approved, you will receive a three-year eligibility period for these exams.​

If you are seeking to be certified as both a prosthetist and an orthotist, you will need to submit three, separate applications to become eligible for:

• the combined O&P written exam
• the orthotic simulation and CPM exams*
• the prosthetic simulation and CPM exams*

 *only eligible after completing the related discipline residency

You have up to fourteen days to apply after the application deadline. You will be required to pay a non-refundable $100 late fee.

Please allow up to four weeks for your application to be processed. We will send you a notice of your eligibility status via email. You may also check your application status by logging in to your My ABC account.

No. We will reference your previous application if it was submitted within the last seven years.  

No, your residency must be marked complete by NCOPE on or before the residency deadline.

NCOPE will provide confirmation of your residency completion to ABC.

Once all the requirements are met, you will be deferred to the next available exam cycle.

Both the application and exam fees are due with your application. All applications and payments must be submitted online.  The application fee is non-refundable.

Availability at the testing centers is on a first come, first served basis. If you are having difficulty finding a location near you, please contact us at certification@abcop.org.

Yes, you can take more than one exam on the same day, space and time permitting.

Test Center Appointments

• You can cancel your test center appointment up to 48 hours prior to your scheduled time.
  
• If you cancel less than 48 hours of your appointment, you will forfeit your entire exam fee.
  

Remote Proctoring Appointment

• You can cancel your remote proctored appointment up to 24 hours prior to your scheduled time.
  
• If you cancel less than 24 hours of your appointment, you will forfeit your entire exam fee.

You will forfeit your exam fee and be required to re-register for the next available cycle.​ ​

Once your application is approved, you are given four attempts at the exam during your three-year eligibility window. 

For the simulation exams, you will receive an immediate on-screen pass/fail result when you finish your exam. You will receive an email with an official score report within 2 weeks of the simulation exam.

For the CPM exams, you will receive an email with a preliminary pass/fail result within one week.  The CPM exam score reports will be emailed approximately two weeks after the exam. 

Once you have received your official score report on your My ABC account, you may register to re-take the exam. If you wish to re-take your exam in the next exam cycle, you must re-register by the residency deadline for that exam cycle. 

Once your application is approved, you are given four attempts at the exam during your three-year eligibility window. 

If you have failed the exam four times or if your eligibility period has expired, you must reapply for eligibility. Please refer to the ABC Practitioner Candidate Guide for more information. 

Certificates are mailed within four weeks after the conclusion of the exam cycle.

Once you are certified, you have a five-year certification cycle in which you must earn continuing education credits and submit an annual fee. See the Guide for Maintaining Certification for information discipline specific continuing education credit requirements.

Your annual renewal fee is $330 and is due by December 1st. The fee for your first year will be prorated.