ABC was established on September 9, 1948. Its founding fathers determined that instead of being referred to as 'fitters', certified individuals would be designated Certified Orthotists and Certified Prosthetists and a competency exam would be required to attain certification.
ABC is founded September 1948 as the American Board for Certification of the Orthotic and Prosthetic Appliance Industry by O&P Practitioners Chester C. Haddan, CPO, J. Blaine Korrady, Lee J. Fawver, CPO and David E. Stolpe, CPO. This is the beginning of a long history of excellence in the orthotics and prosthetics profession.
The first ABC certification exam is administered in New York City in 1951. In that first year, 51 individuals attain their certification.
The ABC Board votes to drop the term appliance industry from its original name and adopt the name American Board for Certification in Orthotics & Prosthetics, Inc.
ABC fulfills CMS mandatory accreditation deadline for all post-mastectomy, durable medical equipment and pedorthic facilities.
The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) awards ABC and NCOPE Category I recognition, the highest international education standard. ABC is still the only credentialing body in the U.S. to receive Category I recognition from ISPO.
ABC updates its logo to reflect a current and modern profession.
"The new logo provides a fresh look for a 70-year-old standard bearer. It represents our ability to embrace the need for change while still honoring the past.” - Deborah M. Plescia, CPO, 2018 Board President.
ALEXANDRIA, VA—The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics, Inc. (ABC) has awarded the William D. Beiswenger Volunteer Award to John H. Reynolds, CPO, FAAOP.