CPO (Certificate in Prosthetics & Orthotics)

Last Updated on July 30, 2023 by Vishnu Nambiar

Hi readers! Do you want to pursue an entry level course related to the field of prosthetics and orthotics? If yes, this post will be of help to you. Here, we will have an in-depth analysis of Certificate in Prosthetics and Orthotics course.

It is a certification course. It is also known by the short name of CPO.

In this post, you will find all the important details that you need to know about this course. Here, I’ve covered the following details – duration, eligibility criteria, colleges, scope, fees, admission process, syllabus and career prospects.

Here is a quick overview of the certificate course –

As I mentioned before, it is an entry level training program. It primarily deals with the assembly and fitting of artificial limbs, support braces and orthopaedic appliances.

It is an ideal skill-enhancing course for ITI passouts hailing from relevant trades/disciplines. It will improve and boost their career prospects.

What is CPO course all about? What is it like to pursue this course? Will I get a good job after completing this course? What’s the course content like? You will find answers to these questions in the next section –

Certificate in Prosthetics and Orthotics: An Introduction

It is a certification course. The main aim of this course is to train candidates and make them skilled in areas such as – assembly of orthopaedic appliances, assembly of artificial limbs, fitting of artificial limbs and filling of orthopaedic appliances.

What is prosthetics and orthotics all about, you may ask. Here is everything you need to know about these domains –

Prosthetics deals with the use of artificial limbs to improve the lifestyle and functioning of persons with limb loss. Artificial limbs are also known as prostheses.

Orthotics deals with the design and fabrication of orthoses. What is orthoses, you may ask. It acts as a support and controlling agent to the weakened and deformed regions of the body of a person.

Tasks such as fitting and assembling artificial limbs and assistive appliances require specific set of skills. These skills can be mastered through CPO course.

The main aim of this course is to develop a skilled workforce of fitting and assembly technicians related to the fields of prosthetics and orthotics. This program has been crafted keeping the needs of ITI passouts in mind. You may also check – MPO and BPO courses.

Come, let us take a closer look at the course details. In the next section, you will find the following details – duration, eligibility, colleges, scope, fees, syllabus and admission process. Here it is –

Course details

Type of course

It is a certification program.

Duration

The course is one year long.

Eligibility criteria

Minimum educational qualification required is – Completed ITI with trades like – fitter/carpenter/leather or Equivalent qualification.

Syllabus

Here are some of the important subjects present in the curriculum –

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Material science
• Workshop technology
• Applied mechanics
• Biomechanics
• Basic electronics
• Prosthetics science
• Orthotics science
• Pathology
• Orthopaedics
• Physiotherapy

Fees

Tuition fees depends upon the following factors – type of college (Government or self-financing), scholarship status of the student, rating of the college etc. On an average, tuition fees could be anywhere between 3-10K INR.

Colleges

Here are some of the popular colleges offering this course in India –

• Rehabilitation Council of India
• Ishwar Institute of Prosthetics and Orthotics

Admission process

Reputed institutes select deserving candidates through selection tests or interviews. Deserving candidates are selected on the basis of their performance in the test or interview. Some colleges are also known to carry out donation based and direct admission process.

Career prospects

After completing this course, you will be able to find work at the following places – firms manufacturing orthopaedic appliances, prosthetics and orthotic devices, firms marketing these products, firms involved in maintenance and repair of these devices etc. In these places, they may don the following roles – fitting techncian or assembly technician.

Vishnu Nambiar

I am Vishnu Nambiar a career and educational blogger from India. I am also a full time educational consultant having more than 12 years of experience in the educational sector.

I share articles related to courses, colleges, careers, exam tips and more here.