Locating a Certified Prosthetist

Locating a Certified Prosthetist

Please understand that the Amputee Coalition cannot and does not make specific recommendations for products or services, but can only suggest possible sources, with no endorsement implied.

Amputee Coalition therefore does not maintain a list of prosthetists. The following Internet search engines can help you find prosthetists and O&P facilities near you. You can then contact these professionals to ask about their experience and specialties.

Amputee Coalition Member Corporate, Facility and Hospital Directory

The first resource we suggest is the Amputee Coalition Member Corporate, Facility and Hospital Directory, where you can search for facilities by state or within a certain distance of a ZIP code. Not all search results will be prosthetists’ offices: Some will be rehabilitation centers, hospitals, or prosthetics manufacturers, but all have demonstrated their commitment to the limb loss community by becoming members of the Amputee Coalition.

www.amputee-coalition.org/members/members.asp

Certification Boards

The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics (ABC)

On the right side of the front page of the ABC Web site is the heading ‘ABC Directory’ with links below it to two searches: one for ABC-accredited facilities and one for ABC-credentialed individuals. For an O&P Facility search, enter your Zip code (or City and State), set the Proximity to how many miles away you want to search, set the Accreditation Type to ‘Orthotics/Prosthetics’ and click Search. To search for an individual prosthetist, enter the same location information, set the Discipline to ‘Orthotics/Prosthetics’ and click Search.

Web: www.abcop.org
Phone: 703/836-7114

The Board of Certification/Accreditation, International (BOC)
For the BOC Web site click on the BOC Directory Search link on the left side of the main page. On the next Terms & Conditions page, click the Accept button at the bottom. On the search page, select ‘Prosthetist’ for the Type, then select your State and click GO.

Web: www.bocusa.org
Phone: 877/776-2200

Professional Associations

The American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists (AAOP)

The AAOP Web site has a search engine that locates Academy members by city or ZIP code. A ZIP code search defaults to 50 miles. After the first search, you can reset the distance and limit the search to show only prosthetists in the specified area.

Web: www.oandp.org/search/directory.asp
Phone: 703/836-0788

The American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA)

The AOPA Web site has a search engine that can find AOPA member facilities in a city or ZIP code, but not within a given distance.

Web: www.aopanet.org
Phone: 571/431-0876

More Information

Fact Sheet: Upper Limb Loss: Questions to Ask Your Prosthetist
www.amputee-coalition.org/fact_sheets/ul_questions.html

“A Closer Look at the ABC and BOC – In Their Own Words”
From First Step – A Guide for Adapting to Limb Loss, 2003
www.amputee-coalition.org/first_step_2003/closer-look-at-boc-abc.html

“Choosing Your Prosthetist” by J. Michael Wheatley, PhD, CP
From First Step – A Guide for Adapting to Limb Loss, 2003
www.amputee-coalition.org/first_step_2003/choosing-a-prosthetist.html

“Resolving Problems With Your Prosthetist or O&P Facility” by Phil Tamoush
From inMotion, March/April 2002.
www.amputee-coalition.org/inmotion/mar_apr_02/prosth.html