Re: RECIPROCAL LICENSES

Re: RECIPROCAL LICENSES

Bill DeToro, CO

9/14/2011

Dear List,
 
I would like to chime in on this one. I too am one of those older
generation practitioners. I spent 5 years learning how to evaluate patients
orthotic needs, while learning how to design and fabricate and subsequently fit
orthoses to those patients.
 
Afterwards, I took the required certificate courses in upper, lower and
spinal orthotics that were being offered at NYU and NWU. I sat for and passed
the ABC orthotic exam in 1973, first time around I might add. In addition,
I spent two years at Youngstown State University but failed to get even an
associates degree. Never the less I received some pretty good education
that I have used more than a couple of times in my 62 years.
 
I had the distinct honor and privilege to go through the chairs of the
Ohio Orthotic and Prosthetic Association, The American Orthotic and Prosthetic
Association and The American Board for Certification in Orthotics and
Prosthetics, ultimately being elected President of all three associations. I
also had the desire to become a Fellow of the Academy to prove that I had
what it took to earn that honor. I also served as an orthotic examiner for
well over 10 years.
 
I imagine if I gave it enough additional thought I could fill up some
additional space with other related things that I did within the orthotic
prosthetic professions during the past 44 years.
 
Unfortunately, now that I am enjoying the Florida winters, I can't offer
my expertise to patients in the sunshine state because of the lack of
reciprocal licenses. That is unless I would agree to work under the direct
supervision of some younger person who I am told must know a whole lot more about
Orthotics than I do because he or she possesses the newer educational
requirements of their license board.
 
Exceptions in state licenses, regarding reciprocal privileges should be
made, especially when the ultimate end result in doing so could very well
equate to patients in those states being provided with excellent orthotic care
from seasoned practitioners who still have a lot to offer.
 
My two cents worth!
 
William W. DeToro, LO/CO and a former FAAOP
 
 
In a message dated 9/14/2011 11:51:13 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
<Email Address Redacted> writes:

Dear List:

I am currently seeking employment. I am an ABC Certified Prosthetist and
an
Illinois Licensed Prosthetist and Orthotist. I have been told that there
are not many states with licensing laws that have reciprocal licensing.
The
licensed examples most commonly stated as difficult to impossible to
acquire
are: Florida, Texas and New Jersey.

I am wondering if there is a list of licensed states that shows whose
previous license is recognized by another state without examination.

I should also state that I am an old timer from the era that did not
require
a Bachelor's Degree or residency to sit for the ABC exam. The rules from
1972 required a GED, two years experience and successful completion of the
exam. (At the time Illinois first issued licenses, I received both
licenses
under the grandfather's clause. That window of opportunity was only
available for the first year of licensing. I am assuming that other states
had grandfather's clauses and are no longer available for use.)

I think it would be of assistance, if somehow a chart could be made
available of which licensed states will recognize and issue a reciprocal
license to someone accepting employment in another licensed state.

I would favor answers from members of their state's licensing boards as
definitive answers. I would also like to hear from successful licensees
who
transferred to another state and what their experiences were.

I am sure that some one will also point out what additional questions I
should have asked in this post.

Thanks in advance for the assists.

Ed Roman CP/LPO(IL)