Apply as a Uniquely Qualified Person

If you have been practicing orthotics and/or prosthetics for at least 15 years, or if you have an assistant license but have not completed a professional clinical residency, you may be eligible for licensure as a "uniquely qualified person".

Each applicant for licensure under this method will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Eligibility

To be considered for licensure as a uniquely qualified person, you must meet the requirements of at least one of the following methods:

• Method 1 - Orthotist or Prosthetist License
  • You have at least 15 years of extensive orthotic or prosthetic experience in the discipline for which you have applied
  • You can demonstrate proof of having taken at least 75 hours of continuing education, within the five years before application
• Method 2 - Orthotist-Prosthetist (Dual) License
  • You have at least 15 years of orthotic or prosthetic experience
  • You have at least 15 years of prosthetic experience
  • You can demonstrate proof of having taken at least 100 hours of continuing education, within the five years before application
• Method 3 - Orthotist or Prosthetist License
  • You currently hold an assistant license in Texas
  • You meet the requirements for licensure by examination
  • You have not completed a professional clinical residency
  • You can submit proof of at leat 2 years of orthotic or prosthetic experience within the 5 years prior to application, and the experience was obtained under the supervision of a licensed or certified orthotist or prosthetist in the discipline for which you have applied

Educational Requirements

To apply for an orthotist, prosthetist, or prosthetist-orthotist license, you must meet one of the following educational requirements:

1. 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.
2. 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 with your application materials as proof of meeting the educational requirement.

Residency Program

If you have completed a residency program recognized by the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE), you must include proof of completion along with your application materials. Residency programs must be in the field of orthotics, prosthetics, or a dual program, as appropriate to the license being applied for.

If your residency was completed in Texas, the supervising orthotist or prosthetist must hold a valid Texas issued license in the same discipline as the clinical residency being completed.

Supporting Documentation

Along with your application materials, you must include an attestation of experience providing care in the area for which you are applying (i.e. orthotics, prosthetics, or both).

• Attestation of Experience Providing Extensive Orthotic Care (PDF)
• Attestation of Experience Providing Extensive Prosthetic Care (PDF)

Additionally, you will also be required to include with your application materials 2 professional references on a Professional Reference Form (PDF).

Jurisprudence Exam

All applicants for initial licensure must complete the applicable jurisprudence examination before applying for a license. The jurisprudence examination must have been completed no more than six months prior to the license application date. For further details, please see the exam information page.

Application and Fee

Once the above requirements have been met, you may submit a completed Orthotists and Prosthetists License Application Form (PDF) with the appropriate fee, listed below.

Online applications are not accepted for uniquely qualified persons.

Licensing Exam

Applicants may also be required to pass the written licensing exam to demonstrate qualifications, if an evaluation by the departmental is found to be inconclusive.

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.