Prosthetic, Orthotic, and Pedorthic Program (POP)

In POP (POP Diploma, POP AAS, and OPCA Advanced Certificate) programs, students learn to evaluate patients, provide comprehensive prosthetic, orthotic, and pedorthic patient care, design and fabricate custom prosthetic, orthotic, and pedorthic devices, and measure for and fit off-the-shelf (non-custom) orthoses, therapeutic shoes, and multi-density inserts. Training includes both traditional hands-on techniques and advanced technologies such as CAD/CAM, 3D printing, and foam carving. These skills help restore mobility and independence while protecting, supporting, correcting, or replacing function for individuals who need POP services.

Note: While these competencies are taught across all of our programs, instruction within each POP program is tailored to its specific intended outcomes and career pathways.

O&P Technician: fabricates and adjusts custom orthoses/prostheses

• Orthotic Fitter – Provides and fits non-custom orthotic devices, including custom-fitted, prefabricated, and off-the-shelf orthoses.
• Therapeutic Shoe Fitter – Provides and fits non-custom pedorthic devices, including off-the-shelf therapeutic shoes and multi-density inserts.
• Mastectomy Fitter – Provides and fits breast prostheses and post-mastectomy products and support.

Note: Training for Orthotic Fitter and Therapeutic Shoe Fitter is built within our POP Diploma and AAS degree programs. Training for Mastectomy Fitter is not currently available.

Pedorthist: independent foot/ankle specialist who blends clinical and technical skills into one role - evaluates, fabricates/modifies, fits, documents, bills, orthopedic shoes and prefabricated/custom foot orthoses

O&P Assistant: supports O&P practitioner-directed clinical care and can also provide assistance in fabrication, repair, and maintenance of orthoses and prostheses

O&P Practitioner: Delivers comprehensive POP care, including patient evaluation, device design, fitting, adjustment, documentation, billing, and follow-up, while leading an interdisciplinary POP team to ensure coordinated, high-quality patient care

Century’s Stackable Pathway

POP Diploma (Technician, Fitter) → POP AAS (degree advancement) → OPCA Advanced Certificate (Assistant, Pedorthist) → BSOP/MSOP Partnership (Practitioner) 

• Small classes with individualized support
• AI-resilient career options due to custom hands-on
• Fabrication and direct patient interaction
• Hands-on, in-person training from day one
• Strong blend of art, design, science, problem solving, and healthcare impact
• Multiple step-out points with laddered career options
• Career pathways aligned to preferred work environments (behind-the-scenes hands-on lab and/ or digital fabrication, or front-facing direct patient care)
• Built for students to work while continuing school
• One of only four NCOPE/CAAHEP accredited U.S. schools for foundational technology-level education
• 50+ years of O&P teaching and full stackable pathways with Concordia (BSOP/MSOP)

• Advance your digital design and fabrication skills through the Digital Manufacturing Certificate (16 credits total)
• POP students already complete 7 credits within the POP program Diploma, so only 9 additional credits are needed to earn this career-elevating certificate
• A blend of CAD/CAM in 2D and 3D along with manufacturing capabilities such as additive manufacturing (3D printing), CNC, laser cutting, and others are covered in the hands-on coursework

Foundational Knowledge & Skills for All POP Careers

• Technical foundation for prosthetic, orthotic, and pedorthic career goals
• Foundation-first training in anatomy, biomechanics, materials science, safety, and machine/tool use
• Hands-on fabrication methods, materials, and lab workflows
• Custom orthosis/prosthesis fabrication and adjustment skills
• Fitter-focused care using off-the-shelf devices custom-fitted from measurements
• Intro documentation: charting, fitting/device records, and billing/reimbursement basics
• Practicum (Final Course): Work alongside POP professionals to fabricate orthotic/prosthetic devices, support fittings, learn adjustments, and assist with core clinical responsibilities.
• Prepares for entry-level O&P Technician and O&P Fitter roles
• Seamless transition into POP AAS and beyond

POP Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

Orthotic Prosthetic Clinical Applications (OPCA) - Advanced Certificate

Clinical Application of Foundational and Advanced POP Knowledge and Skills

• Advanced training in patient evaluation, casting, 3D scanning, modifying, CAD/CAM, foam carving, fabricating, fitting, and device adjustment
• Develop critical thinking and clinical problem-solving skills
• Strong focus on documentation, quality standards, and billing/reimbursement workflows
• Advanced study: anatomy, pathology, biomechanics, materials science, and device design
• Practicum (Final Course): Work alongside POP professionals to see patients, fit devices, and carry out core clinical responsibilities
• Prepares graduates for entry level O&P Assistant and/or Pedorthist roles
• Qualifies progression to BSOP/MSOP O&P Practitioner partnership pathway (Concordia University, St. Paul)