Why Choose IIOP?

The International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics is the profession’s only independent O&P educational facility. The Institute is committed to the elevation of the Orthotics and Prosthetics Profession through quality education. IIOP hosts the American Board of Certification for Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics Testing Center. Additionally, the Institute hosts multiple professional development courses and symposiums and is the home of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists. This gives IIOP’s students access to a multitude of educational opportunities as well as exposure to the seasoned clinicians in the profession. The annual meeting of the Academy Chapter hosts a job fair for so that students can have the opportunity to meet potential residency directors, and provides a forum for students of the Institute to present their research papers and case studies to an audience of their peers and mentors. The campus is also home to a private O & P practice which allows our students to complete clinical rotations on-site and gain valuable patient interactions. The IIOP curriculum’s foundational courses are focused on the interdisciplinary approach to problem-based learning. The curriculum encourages students to become lifelong learners with an emphasis on improving orthotic and prosthetic outcomes. A great deal of time is spent ensuring that students develop appropriate manual skills together with the understanding of the importance of lab skills in the workforce.

Diversity

IIOP’s administration, faculty, staff, and students, affirm our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and consider them essential elements of a vibrant learning community and integral to our institutional mission. We are determined to foster an environment of inclusion, diversity, openness, and respect for the many differences that will enrich the Orthotic and Prosthetic community, including race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, socioeconomic status, national origin, language, sexual orientation, disability. Our profession serves a diverse population . Our goal is to increase diversity in our O and P workforce by keeping our tuition as one of the lowest in the Country.

The IIOP campus offers 40,000 sq. ft. dedicated to Orthotic and Prosthetic education, featuring large spacious O & P laboratories for fabrication activities.

No Out-of-State Tuition or Fees
One of the Lowest total tuition cost Nationally
Small class sizes
Focus on fabrication
National and International Clinical Rotation experiences
100% employment rate
Patient-centered curriculum
Community service
Well-rounded education
Interdisciplinary faculty
By keeping our tuition low, we continue to increase the chances for inclusivity and diversity on campus.

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Master of Science in O&P Graduation, NCOPE Residency Rates and Exam Pass Rates

Program Start	Students Entering	Students Graduating	Graduation Rate	Residency placements prior to graduation	Total entering residency less than 6 months Post-Graduation	Combined Practitioner Written Exam Pass Rates
2019 Spring	3	3	100%	2	3
2020 Spring	7	7	100%	6	7*
2020 Fall	12	12	100%	12	12
2021 Spring	5	5	100%	5	5	5
2021 Fall	24	24	100%	22	24
2022 Spring	9	In Progress		9
2022 Fall	29	In Progress		In Progress
Total		51	100%	47	51
*Graduate is employed full time

The total students entering and graduating above do not reflect cohorts that are currently in progress.

History

The International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics was founded in 2015. The Master’s Program in Orthotics and Prosthetics offered today by the Institute has its history in the St. Petersburg College (SPC) O&P program at the Health Education Center in Pinellas Park, Florida. SPC is a Florida Community College, founded in 1927, that began offering four-year degrees in 2002. In 2005 SPC was approved to offer a bachelor’s degree in Orthotics and Prosthetics.

In 2008, the National Commission for Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE) announced that the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) had approved revision to the Standards and Guidelines for Accreditation of Education in Orthotics and Prosthetics to a require a Master’s degree for entry level into the field. This was deemed necessary for the delivery of quality patient care due to the dynamic base of knowledge and rapidly emerging processes and technologies in the O&P field. In response to this mandate, St. Petersburg College formed a consortium with Florida State University (FSU) 2009. Upon completion of the course work at SPC, the student would be required to matriculate to FSU by meeting all their requirements to complete the degree conferred at FSU: a Master’s of Science in Industrial Engineering, with specialization in Materials Engineering and Management of Orthotics and Prosthetics (MSIE-MEMOP). This allowed the graduate to apply for residency programs and enter the field of Orthotics and Prosthetics under the new NCOPE standards and guidelines. The Master’s program enrolled its first cohort in fall of 2012.

The consortium was made up of two programs and two degrees were conferred. This was a two-step process, unlike other O & P programs in the United States. The first degree was the SPC Bachelor of Applied Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics, the second being the FSU MSIE-MEMOP. The course work for FSU was offered on-line or at the SPC campus, utilizing SPC’s lab space.

After a two-year evaluation of the track it was noted that it would be best to find a new partner to sponsor the master’s track. The program was difficult for both faculty and students. Additionally, it became clear that Material Science was not an ideal degree as it did not incorporate any practice management or patient skills in the final semesters.

In 2015, the program sought a sponsorship from Florida International University’s (FIU) Engineering Management that would allow students, through a consortium arrangement, to remain on the SPC campus and complete the last three semesters online at FIU while continuing clinical rotations. Arlene Gillis, CP, LPO, the director of the SPC O&P program, sensed that SPC would not long continue the consortium arrangement. She envisioned establishing a new educational facility that would continue to provide O&P training and research opportunities for the profession.

In 2016 Gillis formed a non-profit and established the International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics. Through discussions with The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics (ABC), an agreement was made that the new facility would include housing for ABC’s Testing Facility. This would provide ABC with a permanent testing facility, freeing them from the logistical difficulties associated with having to host exams at various locations throughout the country.

After a thorough search process of over a year, in 2017 Gillis located a 35,000 sq. ft. building on several acres of property adjacent to Tampa International Airport. The building had recently been vacated by ITT Technical Institute and was the ideal size and location for both the IIOP educational plans, and for the ABC Testing Facility. An agreement was made to purchase the property. The Board of Trustees, Advisory Board, Graduate Oversight Committee, staff and faculty consulted, and architects designed the renovations for a state-of-the-art testing facility and orthotic and prosthetic educational facility. Dale Petersen, having early along joined Gillis supporting her plans, agreed to become the lab manager; he designed and equipped the laboratory facilities. IT installed all new network systems; security, fire protection and sprinkler systems were updated. New landscaping beautified the exterior, and the 300-space parking lot was resurfaced. A security fence was installed to encompass the entire 4 acres of property. After several months, the construction was completed and both the Institute and ABC had a home.

Ultimately, SPC decided to discontinue the sponsorship of the O&P program, and a transfer of sponsorship to FIU was approved by NCOPE. FIU, located in Miami, Florida lacked the O&P laboratory facilities necessary for the program. Accordingly, FIU partnered with IIOP, whose newly renovated facility offered ample space including classrooms and a fully functioning O&P laboratory.

In 2018, IIOP applied to and received approval from the Commission of Independent Education of Florida to become a stand-alone entity and began to offer an Orthotics and Prosthetics Master’s Program. IIOP continued its partnership with FIU and its Engineering Management track.

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