Orthotist/Prosthetist FAQs

If you have a Master’s degree in orthotics and prosthetics from a CAAHEP accredited program and completed a 12 or 18-month NCOPE residency program, you are eligible.

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

Yes. You just need a master’s degree in O&P from a CAAHEP-accredited program.

Yes. If you are ultimately seeking a CPO credential, you can take the combined exam.

Once you have completed your residency for that discipline. Once approved, you will receive a three-year eligibility period for these exams.​

We will send a notice of your eligibility status via email.  You may also check your application status by logging in to your MY ABC account.

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

Yes, the application and exam fees for another credential are due when you apply.  

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.

No, your residency must be marked completed on or before the residency deadline.

NCOPE will provide confirmation of your residency completion to ABC.

You will be deferred to the next exam cycle.    

Both the application and exam fees are due with your application. The application fee is non-refundable. 

When you are eligible to sit for the discipline specific written and simulation exams, Application 2 and Application 3 fee(s) and the applicable exam fee(s) will be due at the time of submission.

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.

You have up to thirty days prior to the exam date to cancel the exam without incurring a penalty. You will incur a $55 cancellation fee if you cancel less than thirty days.

If you cancel within 5 days of your exam date, you will forfeit your exam fee and be required to re-register for the next available cycle.

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

For the written and 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 24 hours for the written exam.

Simulation and CPM exam score reports will be emailed approximately three to four weeks after the exam. 

Once your initial application is approved, you are eligible to take the exam a maximum of four times within a three-year period. If you fail the exam four times or if your eligibility period has expired, you must reapply for eligibility. Please reference the ABC Assistant Candidate Guide for more information.

No. It is a new exam with its own test specifications. The single discipline exams are designed for candidates who have completed an NCOPE residency in that discipline. The combined exam is designed for candidates who have just graduated from a CAAHEP accredited master’s program.

You may register 24 hours after taking your exam for the next available exam cycle.

Yes. Once you have completed your residency, you can apply for the single discipline written exams. You will be required to pay an additional application and exam fees.

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

If you have failed the 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.

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.

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

Your annual fee is $275 and is due by December 1st. The fee for your first year will be prorated.

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 written exam immediately after graduation. Check the application deadlines for your desired exam cycle.

Yes. You just need a master’s degree in O&P from a CAAHEP-accredited program.

Yes. If you are ultimately seeking a CPO credential, you can take the combined exam.

Once you have completed your residency for that discipline. Once approved, you will receive a three-year eligibility period for these exams.​

We will send a notice of your eligibility status via email.  You may also check your application status by logging in to your MY ABC account.

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

Yes, the application and exam fees for another credential are due when you apply.  

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.

No, your residency must be marked completed on or before the residency deadline.

NCOPE will provide confirmation of your residency completion to ABC.

You will be deferred to the next exam cycle.    

Both the application and exam fees are due with your application. The application fee is non-refundable. 

When you are eligible to sit for the discipline specific written and simulation exams, Application 2 and Application 3 fee(s) and the applicable exam fee(s) will be due at the time of submission.

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.

You have up to thirty days prior to the exam date to cancel the exam without incurring a penalty. You will incur a $55 cancellation fee if you cancel less than thirty days.

If you cancel within 5 days of your exam date, you will forfeit your exam fee and be required to re-register for the next available cycle.

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

Once your initial application is approved, you are eligible to take the exam a maximum of four times within a three-year period. If you fail the exam four times or if your eligibility period has expired, you must reapply for eligibility. Please reference the ABC Assistant Candidate Guide for more information.

No. It is a new exam with its own test specifications. The single discipline exams are designed for candidates who have completed an NCOPE residency in that discipline. The combined exam is designed for candidates who have just graduated from a CAAHEP accredited master’s program.

You may register 24 hours after taking your exam for the next available exam cycle.

Yes. Once you have completed your residency, you can apply for the single discipline written exams. You will be required to pay an additional application and exam fees.

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

If you have failed the 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.

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.

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

Your annual fee is $275 and is due by December 1st. The fee for your first year will be prorated.