BOC has developed the following policies and procedures to guide candidates and certificants through situations they might encounter throughout the certification process. The policies and procedures are revisited regularly and may be amended in response to substantial real-world experience provided by BOC certificants.

The policies and procedures are available to download below. If you have any questions or concerns, email us at cert@bocusa.org, or call 877.776.2200.

The BOC Code of Ethics establishes the ethical standards and obligations required of all certificants in order to maintain certification status with BOC.

The BOC Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Policy ensures the confidentiality of all information pertaining to BOC and outlines the shared responsibility of protecting that information by all who interact with the organization. The policy also states the circumstances in which information can be shared.

The BOC Recertification Policy governs the requirements for maintaining BOC certification. The major provisions included in this policy are:

• Uniform 5-year Continuing Education (CE) cycle with a single beginning and ending date applicable to certificants in all programs.
• Continuing Education (CE) approval procedures
• Renewal requirements
• Certification status, including Retirement and Temporary Leave status.
• Reinstatement to active certification status.

The BOC Reciprocity Policy establishes standards for granting the appropriate BOC certification(s) to practitioners who are currently certified by other certifying bodies, including the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) and the Canadian Board for Certification of Prosthetists and Orthotists (CBCPO). After reviewing the reciprocity policy, fill out and submit the BOC downloadable application, appropriate documentation, and accompanying payment to complete the process. This option is available for orthotists, prosthetists, pedorthists, mastectomy fitters, and orthotic fitters.

The BOC Test Development Policy incorporates rigorous standards in its Job Analysis studies – conducted every five years – to ensure that content outlines and examinations are correct and related to the current job field. We also conduct annual test development meetings with subject matter experts to draft new examinations and verify that the content outlines are current and relevant. As a candidate or certificant, you can request a summary of a complete job analysis at any time.

The Voluntary Relinquishment form is for BOC certificants who are interested in dropping their certification honorably. If a certificant is retiring or no longer wishes to remain BOC-certified, voluntary relinquishment allows a certificant to do so in good form. Please carefully consider exercising the option of voluntary relinquishment. Regaining good standing once certification is suspended or revoked can be much more difficult and costly.

The Video Practical Examination Resubmission Policy for orthotists and prosthetists outlines the process whereby candidates who do not pass their video exam do not have to resubmit portions of the exam they complete successfully.

The BOC Certification Appeal Procedure outlines the process to resolve all BOC application, eligibility, examination, and other certification or recertification challenges, complaints, or claims of irregularities. For examination discrepancies, you may submit an Appeal Scoring Request. Submit this form along with your payment if you wish to have your score checked or if you have a challenge relating to the nature, form, or content of a particular item. Requests are subject to BOC’s approval, and submitting a request does not guarantee that your exam score will be overturned.

The BOC Ethics Case Procedures establishes the rules and procedures governing the investigation and resolution of alleged violations of the Code of Ethics, including the resulting disciplinary measures BOC may apply to certificants found to have violated the Code of Ethics.

The BOC Ethics Charge Statement is the official notification for submitting an ethics complaint against a BOC certificant. When submitting this form, a detailed description of factual allegations that support the charges against the practitioner must be included.