Business Sense—Hiring a ResidentBusiness Sense—Hiring a Resident

Helping Your Resident Helping Your Resident Prepare for ABCPrepare for ABC

The ABC Application Process:The ABC Application Process:Finish with NCOPE FirstFinish with NCOPE First

Residents need to Residents need to complete complete allall of the of the NCOPE requirements NCOPE requirements prior to applying for prior to applying for the ABC practitioner the ABC practitioner exams.exams.

Residency directors Residency directors can help the process can help the process by encouraging by encouraging residents to complete residents to complete all of the paperwork, all of the paperwork, especially the especially the research project, on research project, on time. time.

On Time and CompleteOn Time and Complete

ABC application and registration forms ABC application and registration forms should be submitted in a timely mannershould be submitted in a timely manner

Applications are available on the ABC Applications are available on the ABC website at website at www.abcop.orgwww.abcop.org or by calling our or by calling our office at 703-836-7114office at 703-836-7114

All forms and documentation should be All forms and documentation should be complete—late or incomplete forms may complete—late or incomplete forms may preclude someone from testing in that cyclepreclude someone from testing in that cycle

Five Most Frequent DelaysFive Most Frequent Delays

NCOPE file is not completeNCOPE file is not complete

Transcripts that do not arriveTranscripts that do not arrive

Applications that are not signedApplications that are not signed

Fees that are incorrectFees that are incorrect

Moving and not notifying ABCMoving and not notifying ABC

ABC Exam Dates and ABC Exam Dates and DeadlinesDeadlines

ABC currently has two practitioner ABC currently has two practitioner exam cycles per year: exam cycles per year: Spring/ SummerSpring/ Summer (May/June) (May/June) Fall/ WinterFall/ Winter (Nov/Dec/Jan). (Nov/Dec/Jan).

Spring 2006 dates are: Spring 2006 dates are: Written/written sim May 20Written/written sim May 20 Pros. CPM June 16/17 Orth. CPM June 23/24Pros. CPM June 16/17 Orth. CPM June 23/24

Currently the ABC application deadlines areCurrently the ABC application deadlines are

March 1 and September 1March 1 and September 1

Computer Based TestingComputer Based Testing

Fall 2006—ABC will move the practitioner Fall 2006—ABC will move the practitioner written and written simulation exams to a written and written simulation exams to a computer based delivery methodcomputer based delivery method

This will allow the candidate greater This will allow the candidate greater access to testing locations access to testing locations

Three testing “windows” each yearThree testing “windows” each year

Three ExamsThree Exams

There are three ABC practitioner There are three ABC practitioner certification exams:certification exams: Written ExamWritten Exam, 150 multiple choice items, , 150 multiple choice items,

designed to test general knowledgedesigned to test general knowledge Written Simulation ExamWritten Simulation Exam, 6 problems , 6 problems

designed to test problem-solving skills designed to test problem-solving skills Clinical Patient Management ExamClinical Patient Management Exam, 7 , 7

modules designed to test practical ability in a modules designed to test practical ability in a clinical environment clinical environment

Preparing for the ABC Exams Preparing for the ABC Exams

ABC Practice AnalysisABC Practice Analysis

ABC Candidate GuideABC Candidate Guide

Academy Exam Preparation SeminarAcademy Exam Preparation Seminar

NCOPE Resident List-ServeNCOPE Resident List-Serve

ABC Canons of EthicsABC Canons of Ethics

Examination ContentExamination Content

ABC practitioner exam content is ABC practitioner exam content is based on the based on the Practice Analysis of Practice Analysis of the Disciplines of Orthotics and the Disciplines of Orthotics and

Prosthetics. Prosthetics.

Domains of PracticeDomains of Practice

Patient AssessmentPatient Assessment

Formulation of the Treatment PlanFormulation of the Treatment Plan

Implementation of the Treatment PlanImplementation of the Treatment Plan

Follow-up Treatment PlanFollow-up Treatment Plan

Practice Management Practice Management

____________________________________________________________________________

Promotion of Competency and Enhancement Promotion of Competency and Enhancement of Professional Practiceof Professional Practice

ABC Certification ABC Certification

Certification is based passing all three Certification is based passing all three exams. Candidates have a four year-exams. Candidates have a four year-four try eligibility period.four try eligibility period.

Once exams are passed:Once exams are passed: Maintain MCE requirements during five Maintain MCE requirements during five

year certification cycle.year certification cycle. Abide by the Canons of EthicsAbide by the Canons of Ethics Remit annual renewal fee.Remit annual renewal fee.

New ABC Staff MemberNew ABC Staff Member

Dorn Sanders—Manager, Professional Dorn Sanders—Manager, Professional Credentialing ProgramsCredentialing Programs

Manages all of the credentialing programsManages all of the credentialing programs

Coordinates with NCOPE to ensure Coordinates with NCOPE to ensure completion of candidate application filescompletion of candidate application files

ABC Update ABC Update Currently Credentialed/ Accredited:Currently Credentialed/ Accredited: Practitioners Practitioners 5,0305,030 Technicians Technicians 576 576 AssistantsAssistants 116 116 FittersFitters 2,8122,812 Facilities Facilities 1,2491,249

Working Together for Residents Working Together for Residents

Four staff members are dedicated to this process,

two at NCOPE and two at ABC.

Thank YouThank You

Business Sense—Hiring a Business Sense—Hiring a ResidentResident