OANDP-L(abc\boc)
Linda Winke & Ken Boggs
Description
Collection
Title:
OANDP-L(abc\boc)
Creator:
Linda Winke & Ken Boggs
Date:
3/7/2004
Text:
To all qualified practitioners,
I am deeply embarrassed by the unprofessional and childish behavior of both of our credentialing bodies in the past week....each organization blaming the other for the breakdown of talks, neither of them getting anything positive from the experience, but instead, a desperate stab at increasing membership (and the related dues) from both.
As far as I'm concerned, this one reckless move renders my ABC certification completely meaningless and worthless. I'm sorry if I can't be as optimistic as some, but I see no hope of any benefit to our profession from any of this. My own education at Northwestern University in Chicago was an overall positive experience, and I have no feeling that time was wasted, or that I should get some refund because others can now receive the same credential without it. The standards of that institution are high. I'm glad that it was part of my experience, but only wish that my profession would expect no less from any of it's practitioners.
I am currently practicing in Illinois, where a state license is required, and a state board exists to monitor eligibility. At present, the standards for license renewal are the same as those for ABC accreditation. As far as I can see, All ABC is doing for me at this point, is keeping track of my CEU's. I can keep my own records and report all continuing education activities to the state and pay my fees to keep my license current. I see no reason to continue any association with this embarrassment of an organization and would, in fact like to distance myself from them as much as possible. I would like to see, in the future, that the individual states become more active in developing their own standards and competencies for our profession. I know this is unpopular with many people, but I feel now that it is preferable to having unqualified persons practice. I would be willing to take any state given exam, if I could be assured that it is keeping the standards of my profession high.
I am not sure what recourse those who live in states without licensure have, but I, for one do not intend to pay another penny in dues to an organization that has never acted to represent it's membership, and that has now deeply insulted that same membership by belittling something that once seemed worth working for. Both of these groups have forced their own demise and rendered themselves obsolete, and while there will always be issues of competency and education, neither ABC nor BOC can make any honest claim of fighting to promote high professional standards. We will all do better to turn our backs on them both.
I am deeply embarrassed by the unprofessional and childish behavior of both of our credentialing bodies in the past week....each organization blaming the other for the breakdown of talks, neither of them getting anything positive from the experience, but instead, a desperate stab at increasing membership (and the related dues) from both.
As far as I'm concerned, this one reckless move renders my ABC certification completely meaningless and worthless. I'm sorry if I can't be as optimistic as some, but I see no hope of any benefit to our profession from any of this. My own education at Northwestern University in Chicago was an overall positive experience, and I have no feeling that time was wasted, or that I should get some refund because others can now receive the same credential without it. The standards of that institution are high. I'm glad that it was part of my experience, but only wish that my profession would expect no less from any of it's practitioners.
I am currently practicing in Illinois, where a state license is required, and a state board exists to monitor eligibility. At present, the standards for license renewal are the same as those for ABC accreditation. As far as I can see, All ABC is doing for me at this point, is keeping track of my CEU's. I can keep my own records and report all continuing education activities to the state and pay my fees to keep my license current. I see no reason to continue any association with this embarrassment of an organization and would, in fact like to distance myself from them as much as possible. I would like to see, in the future, that the individual states become more active in developing their own standards and competencies for our profession. I know this is unpopular with many people, but I feel now that it is preferable to having unqualified persons practice. I would be willing to take any state given exam, if I could be assured that it is keeping the standards of my profession high.
I am not sure what recourse those who live in states without licensure have, but I, for one do not intend to pay another penny in dues to an organization that has never acted to represent it's membership, and that has now deeply insulted that same membership by belittling something that once seemed worth working for. Both of these groups have forced their own demise and rendered themselves obsolete, and while there will always be issues of competency and education, neither ABC nor BOC can make any honest claim of fighting to promote high professional standards. We will all do better to turn our backs on them both.
Citation
Linda Winke & Ken Boggs, “OANDP-L(abc\boc),” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 7, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/222746.
