text: As part of the promise to meet the demand for quality patient care while providing exceptional support to its practitioners, BOC continues to evolve as a trusted resource for certification and accreditation in the orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) profession. On January 1, 2013, The Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) changed its eligibility requirements for its orthotist and prosthetist certifications in accordance with standards set in what has become known as the Historic Agreement of 2008. These standards require graduation from an education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
  BOC went above and beyond those standards to require candidates to complete a residency approved by the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE). One year later, BOC continues to maintain the new standards while continuing to expand its award-winning, customer-centric services.
  The Historic Agreement was signed by the leaders of the national organizations focused on the clinical, business, and quality improvement aspects of the O&P professions, a group known as the O&P Alliance. The participating national organizations were: American Academy of Orthotics and Prosthetics (AAOP); American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics (ABC); American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA); and National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP).
  BOC has since joined these organizations as a full voting member of the O&P Alliance, a coalition of the leading national organizations representing the orthotic and prosthetic profession. The O&P Alliance advocates for state and federal policies that improve the practice of orthotics and prosthetics and quality of services provided to patients who require these health care services.
  James L. Hewlett, BOCO, BOC Board Chair, noted, “BOC’s involvement in the Alliance and our fidelity to the Historic Agreement demonstrates our commitment to the integrity of the O&P profession.”
  After meeting the eligibility requirements, candidates for the orthotist or prosthetist certifications must pass three exams: a multiple-choice exam, a clinical-simulation exam, and a media-based practical exam. The media-based practical exam assesses candidates’ competence to perform the basic tasks of an orthotist or prosthetist. BOC is unique in allowing candidates to complete this part of the exam series from their own facility or residency site without having to bear large travel expenses or wait for infrequent opportunities to take a practical exam in person.