“The AOPA/Hartford O&P Business Certificate program was a great experience. In just a few months, I gained the equivalent of an MBA’s worth of knowledge, equipping me with essential skills in management, finance, and sales and marketing tailored specifically for the orthotics and prosthetics industry. The expert-led sessions provided invaluable insights that I could immediately apply in my career. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to elevate their expertise and drive success in the O&P field!” – Laurie Johnson
Graduates see a lot of value from their participation, to get this same value, enroll today!
The Certificate in O&P Business Management is a comprehensive certificate program that offers a series of business and management courses to provide business owners, managers, and practitioners of O&P patient care facilities, O&P manufacturers and distributors an opportunity to explore crucial business challenges—from finance, sales and marketing to business operations, reimbursement policies and management. It is similar to non-degree continuing education programs that universities offer in conjunction with their MBA programs. Courses are offered online, at the AOPA National Assembly, and at targeted seminars throughout the country (such as the Mastering Medicare: Essential Coding and Billing Techniques Seminar).
You will learn or grow skills in O&P Operations, Management, Finance, and Sales and Marketing. You can customize the program by selecting specific Elective Courses that pertain to your interest and/or role in O&P. Through learning proven techniques and acquiring new tools for developing better business practices you will create ongoing returns for your company. It also provides an opportunity to showcase your knowledge in O&P Business Management.
For most that have received their certificate, the entire Certificate Program takes 30-49 hours, roughly 4 hours a week to complete in one semester.
“This unique leadership experience will provide YOU an opportunity to learn fresh insights, new tools, and proven techniques for developing better business practices, while improving your company’s returns. There is no better way to advance your career or increase your business skills then through this program uniquely tailored to O&P.”– Linda Calabria
Need more information? Read through the FAQs. Or download the one-pager.
2024-2025 COURSE SCHEDULE
AOPA and the University’s five-year partnership will come to a contractual end in May 2026. From this point on, we will ONLY offer core course enrollment to existing enrollees, who have taken a core course or elective, through January 2026 or until a new collegiate partner is selected. If a new collegiate partner is selected prior to January 2026, AOPA will confirm that the credits will transfer before ending the existing program. As AOPA selects a new partner, our goal will remain to offer top quality O&P business management courses to business owners, managers, and practitioners at an affordable price.
| Area of Learning | Core Course | Elective Courses |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Operations | Healthcare Operations for O&P Professionals: Operations Management (OM) is to make “Right” (“Optimal”) decisions to achieve organizational goals. In this module, you will study the tools and techniques for planning, design, operation, control, and improvement of the processes which produce goods and deliver services. Online, asynchronous - open Jan 22 - May 6 Register Cost $500 Hosted by the University of Hartford, Barney School of Business | Learn how to get claims paid, survive audits, collect interest from Medicare, and file successful appeals. In addition, our experts have updated the Policies and Procedures section and will be presenting the new rules for Standard Written Orders which replace the need for an initial/dispensing order and a separate detailed written order. Clinical Documentation and Evaluation Currently available on demand Cost $99 Members/$199 Non Members Hosted by AOPA Register |
| Healthcare Management | Healthcare Management for O&P Professionals Understanding how to provide effective and efficient Healthcare Management is an essential ability for O&P Professionals to have as they juggle multiple roles while planning and managing their own and sometimes the work or others. The focus of this course is on developing more knowledge about, and skills in, how to better manage multiple, individual, and team priorities at work. Online, asynchronous - open Jan 22 - May 6 Register Cost $500 Hosted by the University of Hartford, Barney School of Business | Ethics and Compliance in Orthotics and Prosthetics Ethics are the foundation for your compliance plan. This program will cover- What are ethics? How does the concept of ethics drive your compliance plan? Why are ethics and compliance important? What are your responsibilities to patients, physicians, and the profession? Ethics and Compliance in Orthotics and Prosthetics Currently available on demand. Cost $99 Members/$199 Non-Members Hosted by AOPA Register |
| Finance | Financial Management for O&P Professionals The Financial Management module is designed to provide business financial management concepts and perspectives for O&P professionals. Key topics and concepts: Healthcare Today, Business Models, Accounting & Finance Pillars, and Strategic Decisions. Online, asynchronous - open Jan 22 - May 6 Register Cost $500 Hosted by the University of Hartford, Barney School of Business | Managed Care Contracting for O & P involves principles of Finance, Law, Marketing and Cost Accounting/Rate Analysis How to Analyze and Negotiate Managed Care Contracts Currently available on demand Cost $99 Members/$199 Non Members Hosted by AOPA Register |
| Sales and Marketing | Sales and Marketing for O&P Professionals The course examines marketing’s role in an enterprise. It lays out the functions of marketing and exposes the student to a variety of marketing tools including approaches to personal selling and details the many digital marketing tools available. Online, asynchronous - open Jan 22 - May 6 Register Cost $500 Hosted by the University of Hartford, Barney School of Business | This course is designed just for you, building on marketing basics that helps you build your understanding and create a plan that fits into your clinic workflow. Starting with brand and what makes you different, we'll layer on strategy and identify tactics, using a worksheet format to develop a focused plan. O&P Marketing Strategies: Turning Trends into Actions Available on demand Cost $99 Members/$199 Non Members Hosted by AOPA Register |
GRADUATES:
Amanda Russell, BBA, CPOA, CFo
Amy Bauman, CPO
Bridget Augustine, CPO
Caciel Antonio Ruvalcaba Gonzalez
Chrishelle Willeman, MSOP, CPO
Curt Bertram, CPO
Dana Glover
Fernando Saul Ortiz Salazar
Karla Spero
Laurie Johnson
Linda Calabria
Pranee Guichet
Ramen Landon, CPO
Timothy Baldwin, COA
Ying Chen
Yuri Escoto, CMF
ENROLLMENT
Earning your Certificate is as easy as 1-2-3:
- To enroll in the program, complete the online form
- Select and complete four required Core Courses and four Elective Courses within four years and pass a Course specific quiz for each program. (one Core and one Elective course from each of the four areas of learning.) Note that you must register for each Core and Elective Course you want to take to count towards your Certificate:
- To enroll in Core Courses, access University of Hartford storefront. (Instructions can be found here).
- To enroll in Elective Courses, click on links in table above.
- Participants who successfully complete the program will be awarded a frameable certificate from both the University of Hartford and AOPA during a ceremony at the AOPA National Assembly and will be recognized in the O&P Almanac and on the AOPA website.
Learn more about the University of Hartford Core Courses here.
Contacts:
For questions about the overall Certificate or Electives please contact info@aopanet.org.
For questions about Core Courses please contact AOPA@hartford.edu.
About the University of Hartford’s Barney School of Business: Real-world focus. Proven Results. The Barney School of Business is recognized for its ever-evolving curriculum, tangible learning opportunities, and innovative Career Ready program. Bloomberg Businessweek and The Princeton Review have ranked Barney as one of the top business schools in the country. Our accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) places Barney among the top five percent of business schools in the world.