Process for the Evaluation and Recognition of Prosthetics and Orthotics Training Programs - ISPO Category I or II
Letter of Intent:
Schools and institutions interested in receiving ISPO Category I or II recognition of their Prosthetics and Orthotics training program(s) should submit a letter of intent on letterhead paper to the ISPO Head Office mentioning the official program name, a brief description of the program, the Category being sought, and the details of the relevant contact person.
Application:
The ISPO Head Office will confirm receipt of the letter of intent and will provide the program with the Self-Study document as well as the Category I or Category II Information Package. The Self-Study document is to be completed by the school and submitted back to ISPO together with a number of supporting documents.
Revision:
The ISPO Education Committee (Category I or II Subcommittees) will review and discuss the application and eventually require further information from the school. The Committee will then determine the status of the program and decide whether ISPO will first organize a consultation visit to the institution or whether an evaluation of the program may be directly arranged.
The ISPO Head Office will inform the school and describe the next steps within the process including the financial responsibilities for the program (see below).
ISPO Consultation:
One (or more) consultation visits are organized at the institution for the majority of applying programs prior to conducting the official evaluation. The ISPO Head Office will coordinate the dates and requirements of the visit of one or two ISPO consultants with the school.
For a first consultation, ISPO will pay for the travel expenses of the ISPO consultants. The school will arrange for the accommodation and will bear the local costs (local transportation, meals, accommodation).
For follow-up consultations, the school will bear the totality of the expenses of the ISPO consultants.
ISPO Evaluation:
The official ISPO evaluation is to coincide with the final examination of the students. The evaluator/s will suggest an evaluation schedule and the ISPO Head Office will coordinate the dates and requirements of the evaluation visit of two ISPO evaluators with the school.
For evaluations, the school will bear the totality of the expenses of the ISPO evaluators.
Evaluation Report:
Once the evaluation has taken place the evaluator/s will prepare a detailed evaluation report including recommendations. The report will be discussed within the ISPO Education Core Committee and Category I or II Subcommittee and a decision is made in regards to the recommendations, eventual conditions and proposed recognition status and period. The report is submitted to the ISPO Executive Board for acceptance or rejection of the recommendations of the Education Committee.
Recognition:
If the recognition of the program is approved by the Executive Board, then the ISPO Head Office will notify the school and issue an ISPO certificate to the program.
Students that graduate from the recognized program during the recognition period will be receiving an ISPO certificate, which is being distributed through the school. The school is requested to forward the list of program graduates including name, date of birth, program (school), nationality and gender to the ISPO Head Office prior to the graduation.
ISPO is keeping a register of all students having graduated from an ISPO-recognized program at the Head Office.
Re-evaluation(s):
Once the period of recognition is expiring the program will contact the ISPO Head Office and request a re-evaluation, or the ISPO Head Office will alert the program that their recognition is expiring and inquire whether they wish to request a re-evaluation in order to receive continued recognition.
