Apply for an Assistant License
Before you may obtain an orthotic and/or prosthetic assistant license, you must provide proof of meeting the educational and residency requirements. The application process is outlined below:
- The applicant secures a residency with a licensed orthotist or prosthetist.
- The applicant submits the application, fee, and Supervision Agreement form (signed by both the applicant and the licensed internship supervisor) to TDLR.
- Upon approval, TDLR will send a letter to the applicant allowing them to start the residency.
- Upon completion of the residency hours, the applicant submits the Verification of Experience form, the transcript, and the jurisprudence exam certificate. The department reviews the documents and, upon approval, issues the assistant license.
Assistant applicants may complete the required coursework listed below while they are doing their residency.
Educational Requirements
You must provide official transcripts stating that you have completed the minimum coursework from an accredited college or university:
- 8 credit hours of anatomy and physiology
- 3 credit hours of medical terminology
- 3 credit hours of physics
Clinical Residency
Orthotic or Prosthetic Assistant
If applying for an orthotic or prosthetic assistant license, you must successfully complete a clinical residency of not less than 1,000 hours in orthotics or prosthetics, respectively. The residency must be completed in a period of not more than one year.
- In-state applicants: Provide application, fee, and Supervision Agreement form before beginning residency
- Out-of-state applicants: If you are licensed in another state and are moving to Texas, you must comply with the residency requirements for licensure. Your out-of-state residency will be reviewed and may count toward licensure.
Orthotic-Prosthetic (Dual) Assistant
If applying for a dual orthotic-prosthetic assistant license, you must successfully complete a clinical residency of not less than 1,500 hours in orthotics or prosthetics, respectively. The residency must be completed in a period of not more than one year.
Location of Residency
The location of the residency must be an accredited orthotic or prosthetic facility, or equivalent as approved by the department. This requirement may be waived if the residency takes place in a licensed hospital or other facility specified under Texas Health and Safety Code, Title 4, Subtitle B.
Jurisprudence Exam
All applicants for an assistant license must complete the applicable jurisprudence examination before applying. The jurisprudence examination must have been completed no more than six months prior to the application date. For further details, please see the exam information page.
Application and Fee
Applying online for a new license from TDLR is easy and secure. Online applications are immediately sent to the Licensing Division for processing and don’t have to go through additional departments for sorting and payment processing.
If an online application is available, you are strongly encouraged to apply online.
To apply for an assistant license, submit a completed license application form (Apply Online or see Orthotists and Prosthetists License Application PDF) with the appropriate fee, listed below:
Registration Type |
Fee |
Assistant Prosthetist or Orthotist License |
$200 |
Assistant Prosthetist-Orthotist (Dual) License |
$250 |
Supervision Agreement
Include with your application materials a completed Orthotists and Prosthetists Supervision Agreement (PDF). This document notifies the department of your intent to begin a clinical residency.
Applicants with Criminal Convictions
TDLR's Licensing Division conducts a criminal background check through the Department of Public Safety (DPS) on each original license application and each renewal application filed. If the application or the DPS check reveals a conviction that could be a basis for denying the license, the Licensing staff will refer the matter to TDLR's Enforcement Division for further review.
Please see the Guidelines for License Applicants with Criminal Convictions, which describe the process by which TDLR determines whether a criminal conviction renders an applicant an unsuitable candidate for the license, or whether a conviction warrants revocation or suspension of a license previously granted.
You will need to provide information on all felony and/or misdemeanor offenses as part of your license application. You will need to provide information if you have ever been arrested, charged, convicted, entered a plea of nolo contendere (no contest), a plea of guilty, and/or received deferred adjudication for a felony or misdemeanor. You must also include any convictions which are currently on appeal. If you do not have a criminal history, check "No" on the criminal history questions. Failure to report your criminal history may jeopardize your application.