The latest issue of O&P Business News features an article by Thomas Karolewski, CP, FAAOP, titled: A History of O&P Education. If you’re a practitioner, technician, fitter or student in the O&P industry, take a look at Mr. Karolewski’s viewpoint and historical overview related to advancements in orthotic and prosthetic education.
A look at the history of O&P education reveals an interesting mix of classroom requirements:
- Functional anatomy (144 hours)
- Sketching and plan reading, pattern making, principles of alignment (36 hours)
- Welding (36 hours)
- Heat treating and forging (36 hours)
- Elementary mechanics and mathematics (36 hours)
- Applied or business psychology (36) hours)
- Elements of bookkeeping (36 hours)
- Plastics (18 hours)
- Leather and textiles (18 hours)
- Professional relations (18 hours)
- Public speaking (36 hours)
- Gait and posture training (18 hours)
- Techniques of physical therapy and rehabilitation (18 hours)
- Tool care and usage (18 hours)
- Business English (36 hours)
- Sketching and drawing (18 hours)
- Business economics (18 hours)
For more information about the history of the orthotics and prosthetics profession, visit the AOPA website.
A masters-level practitioner program appears to be on the horizon for the O&P industry; aligning the classroom qualifications of O&P practitioners with other healthcare professions. We welcome your opinions on the subject.
