Accreditation of Training Programmes
Accreditation is a validation process whereby prosthetic and orthotic programmes are measured against quality standards.
The ISPO Education Committee grants accreditation to programmes that meet the threshold expectations of quality that is specified in the standards. Objective decision making about programme accreditation depends on the information, data and statements made to the ISPO Education Committee in the context of just, efficient and standardized administrative processes of accreditation. Integrity is the central tenet of the accreditation process and ensures the administration, validation and protection of the rights of all parties.
ISPO accreditation is sought voluntarily by a prosthetic and orthotic training programme to validate against the existing ISPO Education Standards.
Often a sign of good management, accreditation helps identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement based on a series of standards. Often, there is no law requiring accreditation, rather accreditation is an opportunity to seek and secure validation by a recognized external body (ISPO Education Committee) comprised of expert peers. Potential benefits of accreditation include:
- Assurance to students seeking education that a prosthetics and orthotics programme has demonstrated compliance to internationally-accepted standards,
- Emphasis on an integrated and individualized approach to services and outcomes,
Accountability to students, funding sources, and the community, - Pedagogical and management models that are efficient, cost-effective, and based on outcomes and student satisfaction,
- Evidence to federal, state, provincial, and local governments of commitment to a quality training programme that receive government funding,
- Guidance for responsible management and professional growth of faculty and staff,
- A tool for marketing training programmes to prospective students, government entities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and funding agencies.
