The Changing Face of O&P Education: Can We Make A Better Practitioner?

The National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE) has re-evaluated O&P educational philosophy for the past 18 months. Important decisions have been made concerning both primary education and postgraduate training. Primary education will now focus on clinical knowledge with the technical aspects de-emphasized. Postgraduate education will be structured and essentials will be written to address the clinical and technical skills necessary to educate competent practitioners. O&P education is now recognized by the American Medical Association as a legitimate allied healthcare profession, and NCOPE has become a member of CAHEA, the major accrediting agency for health-related occupations. This affiliation has forced NCOPE to rewrite and upgrade its primary and certificate programs' accrediting procedures. These are important advances for O&P education. This shift in educational philosophy will produce more competent practitioners for the future.