Certification FAQs

You can earn the required hours of  patient care experience by volunteering at your local hospital or clinic.

To find opportunities to earn the required hours contact you can:

• contact BOC-accredited facilities in your area.
• ask a certified professional to come to your facility.
• search for professionals using the BOC Certificant Directory.

While the application fee is the only required upfront payment, it makes sense to settle your account at the time of application.  Contact us if you have any questions.

You’ll receive a confirmation from BOC’s certification team by email or fax. BOC will include instructions for taking your exam.

BOC’s testing provider, PSI Services, offers exams in-person at a test location or online from your computer with a live, remote proctor. Live remote proctored exams can be taken at any time, any day that there is availability on the online scheduling portal. Some in-person locations offer exams on Saturdays. Choose your testing location from the list on the PSI website. Please schedule with PSI at least three business days prior to your desired test date.

BOC offers year-round testing, so you can submit your application as soon as you are ready to take the exam. Once you submit your application for certification, you have three years to pass the exam.

Use our Exam Study Resources page for study materials.

Orthotic Fitter and Mastectomy Fitter candidates have 2 1/2 hours to finish these exams.

DME Specialist candidates have 2 hours to finish the exam.

You will receive your results immediately for all computer-based exams. (Note: BOC does not yet offer instant scoring for candidates in Canada or Puerto Rico. For candidates in either of these locations, written exam results will be sent by mail within two to three weeks after completing the exam.)

You may retake your exam after waiting 90 days. After 90 days, submit the Examination Payment Form with your retesting fee. You can retake an exam a maximum of five times within the three-year period; exam fees apply every time you retake an exam.

You will receive a professional number, certificate, and a welcome packet from BOC within four to six weeks. You can also obtain a certificate within two weeks through MyBOC.

You should renew with BOC every year by December 31. BOC will contact you to remind you when it is time to renew.

Visit the directory map and search by credential, name, or state.  Keep in mind that some professionals choose to opt-out of the directory.

If you opted to be excluded from the directory but now want to be added, change your preference through your MyBOC account.

Complete the Voluntary Relinquishment Form and send it to BOC. You will have one year to change your mind, and BOC will require a $100 reactivation fee. If you decide to return to active status after one year of being inactive, you will need to contact BOC.

You can request to be recertified if it has been less than three years since your last payment. Recertification requires payment of all back-renewal fees plus a $100 reinstatement fee.

If more than three years have passed, your certification will be revoked. In that case, you are required to reapply for certification, retake and pass the exam, and pay a reinstatement fee.

Contact us for more information. We are ready to welcome you back to BOC.

You can submit your CEUs online through MyBOC. Log in to your account, click on “Manage CEUs,” and press “Click here to add new CEUs.” Enter the course date, title, provider, category, and number of credits awarded, then click “Save.” BOC conducts random audits of CEU documentation, so you should retain records that verify completion of CEUs submitted online through the end of each five-year cycle. The current cycle ends December 31, 2024. If you cannot submit CEUs online, complete and submit the CE Submission Form.

To qualify for CEUs, the continuing education activity must be related to:

• treatment methods, technologies, devices, or developments in your field
• business or ethical issues for maintaining a professional practice
• subjects relevant to providing service to patients

BOC accepts non-pre-approved CEUs for courses and events involving content within your field. CEUs for non-pre-approved courses are subject to BOC review and approval.

Log in to MyBOC, then click on “Manage CEUs.” The CEU record will show you the CEUs you have earned in the current cycle, plus how many CEUs are needed to fulfill your CE Cycle requirements. You can also view your previous CEU records from older CE Cycles, if applicable. If you do not see all your earned CEUs reflected online, please submit the missing course or event documentation, including your course certificate and/or proof of attendance to BOC.

Scientific credit hours are related to the scientific, professional and/or technical aspects of your field. A minimum of 50% of your total CEUs are required to be Scientific credit hours.

Business credit hours are related to business management in your field. A maximum of 50% of your total CEUs can be Business credit hours.

BOC certificants with multiple certifications must meet the CEU requirements for the certification with the highest total. For example, an individual who is certified as an orthotist and a mastectomy fitter must meet the CEU requirements for an orthotist, which is 75 CEUs over a five-year cycle.

BOC is monitoring the progress of state developments regarding licensure, and we work to actively participate in the discussions. However, the most powerful and knowledgeable advocate for beneficial licensure are your patients and you, the resident, practitioner, and business owner. You can become involved in your state to make sure patients statewide receive the highest quality care by joining your state’s O&P association and informing BOC of any legislation introduced that might impact the profession.