Apply for a Student Registration
A student registration provides authorization for a person to perform prosthetic or orthotic duties under supervision while fulfilling the requirements of a recognized residency program in the field of orthotics, prosthetics, or a dual program, as appropriate to the license being applied for.
A student registration should be obtained before beginning a residency program.
Educational Requirements
To apply for an student registration, you must meet one of the following educational requirements:
- You hold a bachelor's or graduate degree in prosthetics and orthotics from a college or university educational program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or an educational program accepted by the department as having equivalent educational standards.
- You hold a bachelor's or graduate degree in any subject and a certificate from an orthotics practitioner educational program that is accredited by CAAHEP or from a practitioner education program accepted by the department as having equivalent educational standards.
You must submit official college transcripts as part of the application materials.
Alternative Criteria
Alternatively, you may qualify for a student registration if you meet the following requirements:
- You are currently enrolled in a Texas college or university graduate program in orthotics and prosthetics that is recognized and accredited by CAAHEP. You must submit a written certification from the graduate program stating that you have successfully completed the academic prerequisites to enter a professional clinical residency.
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You meet one of the following requirements:
- You are actively engaged in completing a professional clinical residency
- You are currently applying to take the licensing examination
- You are awaiting the results of a licensing examination that you have already taken
- You have completed a clinical residency and are continuing to work as a resident under supervision
Jurisprudence Exam
All applicants for a student registration 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 a student registration, 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 |
Student Prosthetist or Orthotist Registration |
$75 |
Student Prosthetist-Orthotist (Dual) Registration |
$100 |
Supervisor 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.
Upgrade Path to Practitioner
You may upgrade your student registration to a practitioner license after meeting the following requirements:
- You have completed a residency program recognized by the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE) in the field of orthotics, prosthetics, or a dual program, as appropriate to the license being applied for.
- You have passed the licensing examination
Online applications are not accepted for applicants upgrading from student registration to a practitioner license.
After meeting the above requirements, you may apply to upgrade by submitting a completed Orthotists and Prosthetists License Application Form (PDF) along with the appropriate fee, as listed below:
Registration Type |
Fee |
Upgrade to Prosthetist or Orthotist after passing exam |
$200 |
Upgrade to Prosthetist-Orthotist after passing exam |
$300 |
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.