Orthotic-Prosthetic Resident

Orthotist-Prosthetist license requirements are specified in section 468.803, Florida Statutes.

Online Application: Submit a completed application and the required fees to the Board Office. Select the “Apply Online” button and follow the prompts to complete the application. The associated fee payment screen will provide an invoice that must be paid by credit card before the application can be processed. Once the application has been submitted, the status of application processing may be verified by selecting the “Status” button from the menu on the top right side of the page.

Paper Application: If submission of a paper application or payment by check is required, applicants may download a fillable pdf file, complete the application, print, and submit. Submit the completed paper application and required fees to the address listed below:

Florida Board of Orthotists and Prosthetists
Post Office Box 6330
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6330

Read Affirmation and Sign Application: The applicant must agree by signing the application that: “I have carefully read the questions in the foregoing application and have answered them completely, without reservation of any kind, and I state that my answers and all statements made by me herein are true and correct. I understand that if I provide false information that such action shall constitute cause for denial, suspension, or revocation of licensure to practice for which I am applying in the state of Florida”.

The Board of Orthotists and Prosthetists will consider denial of any application that is submitted with incomplete or inaccurate information disclosures related to criminal history or discipline. Applicants must disclose all information accurately, completely, and include all required documentation. You will be notified in writing by the Board Office if any additional documentation is required to complete your application.

Licensure Requirements

A person seeking to attain the orthotics or prosthetics experience required for licensure in this state must be approved by the board and registered as a resident by the department. Although a registration may be held in both disciplines for independent registrations the board may not approve a second registration until at least 1 year after the issuance of the first registration. Notwithstanding subsection  (2), a person who has been approved by the board and registered by the department in one discipline may apply for registration in the second discipline without an additional state or national criminal history check during the period in which the first registration is valid. Each independent registration or dual registration is valid for 2 years after the date of issuance unless otherwise revoked by the department upon recommendation of the board. A registration may be renewed once by the department upon recommendation of the board for a period no longer than 1 year, as such renewal is defined by the board by rule.

Education

To be considered by the board for approval of registration as a resident, the applicant must have one of the following:

• A Bachelor of Science or higher-level postgraduate degree in Orthotics and Prosthetics from an accredited college or university recognized by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, OR
• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university AND a certificate in orthotics or prosthetics from a program recognized by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, or its equivalent, as determined by the board, OR
• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a dual certificate in both orthotics and prosthetics from programs recognized by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, or its equivalent, as determined by the board.

NOTE: Applicants for initial registration only, having completed their degree requirements at a recognized orthotics and prosthetics degree program within forty-five (45) days of their registration application, and whose transcript is not yet available, may instead of an official transcript, submit both of the following:

• A letter sent directly to the Board on school letterhead signed by the orthotics and prosthetics degree program’s director, documenting the applicant has completed the prosthetic and orthotic degree curriculum and is eligible and due to graduate, and specifying the degree to be awarded; and
• A copy of the applicant’s request for a certified transcript addressed to be sent directly to the Board.

Residency

For registration as an orthotic-prosthetic dual resident, the applicant must provide documentation of enrollment in an NCOPE approved residency program.

Mandatory Courses – 64B14-5.005, F.A.C.

• One hour of laws and rules in the area of Chapters 456, 468 Part XIV, F.S., and Rule Division 64B14, F.A.C.
• One hour relating to the prevention of medical errors, which shall include a study of root cause analysis, error reduction and prevention, patient safety and medical records training.
• One hour on infection disease control, including HIV/AIDS.

For more information finding board approved courses, please visit www.cebroker.com or call 1-877-434-6323

License Verification
If any type of license has ever been issued to the applicant in another state, contact the state licensing office and request license verification to be sent directly to the Board Office for each license issued. License verification may be mailed to the address provided below or by e-mail to MQA.OrthoPros@flhealth.gov.

Florida Board of Orthotists and Prosthetists
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-08
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3257

If a “yes” response is provided to any of the health history questions on the application, the applicant is required to submit supporting documentation including the relevant dates and circumstances and the names and addresses of the medical practitioners or hospitals who performed related treatments. The application is considered incomplete until all supporting documentation is provided to the department.

Applicants with prior disciplinary actions on any license from any state are required to submit the following supplemental documentation:

• Board Actions – Certified copies of documents relative to any disciplinary action taken against any license. The documents must be certified and submitted by the agency or board that finalized the disciplinary action.
• Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed license discipline on the application must submit a letter to the board personally describing the circumstances that led to the disciplinary action. The letter should also include a thorough description of the rehabilitation taken by the applicant since the time of the event which would facilitate prevention of future occurrences.

Applicants who have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony; or entered a plea of guilty, nolo contendere, or no contest to any crime in any jurisdiction; even if adjudication was withheld by the court; must answer the criminal history questions on the application and provide the following supplemental documentation:

• Final Dispositions/Arrest Records – Final disposition records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, a letter on court letterhead must be sent from the clerk of the court attesting to records unavailability.
• Completion of Sanctions – Probation and financial sanction records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. Parole records for offenses can be obtained from the Department of Corrections or at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, a letter on court letterhead must be sent from the clerk of the court attesting to records unavailability.
• Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed offenses on the application must submit a letter personally describing the circumstances of the offense. The letter must include the date of the original offense, the charge, and the jurisdiction where the incident occurred.

Note: All applications with “yes” responses to the history questions on the application will be reviewed by the Board office for possible consideration by the Board of Orthotists and Prosthetists. If required, the Board staff will notify you of the date that your application will be presented in the event that you would like to attend.

The applicant must complete a criminal background screening pursuant to section 456.0135, Florida Statutes, by submitting fingerprints electronically through a service provider approved by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The results will be returned to the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse and are made available to the Department for review during the licensure process. Applicant fingerprints will be retained by FDLE and the Clearinghouse. All costs for conducting criminal history background screening and the retention of fingerprints are the responsibility of the applicant.

It is important to use the correct Originating Agency Identification (ORI) when submitting fingerprints. If an incorrect ORI number is provided to the Livescan service provider, the Department will not receive your fingerprint results.

The ORI number for the Board of Orthotists & Prosthetist is EDOH3451Z.

The applicant is responsible for selecting an approved Livescan Service Provider and for ensuring the results are reported to the Department. Print the electronic fingerprinting form, complete the information, and take the form to a Livescan Service Provider. Upon completion of electronic fingerprinting, document the Transaction Control Number. This number is useful to track the fingerprint records in the event they are not properly transmitted to the Department.

For more information, frequently asked questions, and a list of all approved Livescan Service Providers, visit the Background Screening website at: https://www.flhealthsource.gov/background-screening.

Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes (F.S.), requires that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

• Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed. Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:

• For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
• For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
• For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;

• Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
• Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
• Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
• Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities.