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Please note that certification of Orthopaedic Physician's Assistants (OPA-C)
is handled exclusively by the National Board for Certification of Orthopaedic Physician's Assistants (NBCOPA). The NBCOPA
is a separate entity from the Texas Chapter of Orthopedic Physician's Assistant and the American Society
of Orthopaedic Physician's Assistants (ASOPA), which focuses on continued professional development and education of OPAs.
Any questions and inquiries about existing policies, rules, regulations, verification and deadlines relating to certification
or recertification should be addressed to Melody Raymond, the NBCOPA's administrator, using the contact information listed
below.In 1981, the NBCOPA established the requirements for obtaining continuing
medical education (CME) credits in order to maintain certification. Recertification consists of obtaining and submitting a
minimum of 120 hours of CME credit every four years with the appropriate fees. Current OPA-Cs who are ASOPA members pay $2
per CME credit while non-members pay $5 per CME credit. Please note that if the OPA-C does not complete the 120 CME hours
within their four year cycle, he or she must recertify by examination.
Deadline for submission of CME's will
be October 1st of the year you are due to recertify. If CME's are received after October 1st, a late fee of $100.00
will be assessed. New certification acknowledgment will be sent by the end of the year.
Download the NBCOPA Recertification FormNBCOPA credit hours can be earned in the following categories:
Category I: Programs With Accredited Sponsorship
Any continuing medical
education sponsored by an accredited CME organization College courses and educational courses in health/health services are
also accepted. A minimum of 40 Category I hours must be earned for recertification.
Category II: Medical Teaching Grand Rounds & Presentations
Teaching physicians and
personnel in the allied health profession (outside of job responsibilities) can earn one CME hour per lecture hour given.
A maximum of 50 hours can be earned.
Category III: Books,
Papers, Publications
Ten credit hours are awarded for each publication, paper or book chapter that is first-authored
by the applicant. Credit is also allowed for medical editorial work. A maximum of 50 hours can be earned in this category.
Category IV: Non-supervised Individual Continuing Medical
Education Activities
Credit can be awarded for independent work on a case-by-case basis. A maximum of 50 hours
can be earned.
Category V: Medical Administrative CMEs
Any health-related business education can earn credit hours. A maximum of 40 hours will be awarded.
Questions
about recertification or certification verification should be addressed to Melody Raymond at (847) 698-1698 or raymond@aaos.org.
Recertification forms should be sent to:
National Board for Certification
of Orthopaedic Physician's Assistants (NBCOPA)
c/o Melody Raymond, AAOS Special Society Services
6300 North
River Road, Suite 727
Rosemont, IL 60018
(847) 698-1698
Fax: (847) 823-0536
Email: raymond@aaos.org Board Certification
Information about the National Board for Certification of Orthopaedic Physician's Assistants (NBCOPA) Exam for Board
Certification, as well eligiblity, exam fees, application deadlines and dates, format and content and contact information
for requesting the exam.
Maintaining Certification
An explanation of the requirements and categories for maintaining NBCOPA certification through CME credits.
Credentialing Packet (TCOPA)
Privileges for OPA-C (TCOPA)
Recognition
Information on states that recognize OPA-Cs.
Military Duty
A position statement from the NBCOPA on military duty.
Verification of OPA-C Credentials
Please contact Melody Raymond at the NBCOPA at (847) 698-1698 or via email at raymond@aaos.org to request verification of an existing OPA-C certificate holder.
Change of Information
To ensure you get your reminders and information from NBCOPA. Please
make sure they have your most recent contact information whenever it changes. Contact them at the above emails.
It is your responsibilty to keep up with your certification. President, TCOPA
NBCOPA RECERTIFICATION REMINDER
All OPA-Cs are required by the NBCOPA Bylaws to recertify every 4 yrs from date of
original certification. This is accomplished by acquiring 120 CME hours in orthopedics/or related subjects as indicated in
the brochure/category section. Deadline for reporting is October 1 of your recertifying year!
Submissions after that date will be charged a $50.00 late fee in addition to your regular CME dues. CME’s/dues should
be sent to the NBCOPA (see contact information).
Dues are accepted until December 31 of
the recertifying year with late fee. CME’s reported after that date are not accepted and the OPA will be required to
take the certifying test.
ADDRESS CHANGES? PLEASE NOTIFY
US!
Have
you moved recently? We need to keep you in our system for renewal notice. This way we keep you current in our files. The NBCOPA
bylaws state an OPA-C must notify the board of any address change. This way a reminder notice can be sent to you the Spring
of your recertifying year to prevent a lapse of your certification.
INCREASE OF CME PER UNIT DUES
as of JANUARY 1, 2009
Our annual NBCOPA board meeting was held in conjuntion with AAOS this past March. One
subject discussed was the increase of CME unit dues for recertification. Dues have NOT had an increase for over 20 years.
It was voted on by the NBCOPA Board members dues will increase for CMEs as of January 1, 2009.
For ASOPA members, the CME unit fee will increase to $2.00; for non-ASOPA members the CME unit fee will increase to $5.00.
The CME late fee will increase to $100.00 if reported after the October 1 deadline for the recertifying year.
If you have any questions regarding the above information, please feel free to contact me at carichopa@yahoo.com.
OPPORTUNITIES TO EARN CATEGORY 1 CMEs OPPORTUNITIES
TO EARN CATEGORY 1 CMEs ASOPA
members are encouraged to write and submit certification exam questions to be reviewed by NBCOPA and Professional Testing
director at our Item Review Meeting in October.
For each question submitted, the NBCOPA
will give Category 1 credit (one CME per question). Questions must be orthopaedic or related subjects...anatomy/physiology/neuromuscular/history
& physical; surgical; conditions/diagnoses/treatment/pharmacology/radiology. Each question submitted must include verification
with reference source/s, author/s, page numbers, and publication date. Along with each question submitted, 4 answers must
be provided, with the correct answer indicated.
Questions may be submitted throughout the
year to Cassie Richardson at carichopa@yahoo.com. If you have any questions regarding the questions the NBCOPA will accept,
please contact Bob Adams at radams@mayo.edu
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