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.
The NEW and IMPROVED Certificate in O&P Business Management is similar to non-degree continuing education programs that universities offer in conjunction with their MBA programs. The courses will be 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).
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.
Need more information? Read through the FAQs. Or download the one-pager.
2023 COURSE SCHEDULE
| 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. Offered as a online through the University's Blackboard August 28 - December 13, 2023 Register Cost $500 Hosted by the University of Hartford, Barney School of Business | Mastering Medicare: Advanced Coding and Billing Techniques Offered as a Live Virtual Course three times per year. 2023 dates to be announced. Cost $295-420 Hosted by AOPA Clinical Documentation and Evaluation Offered as a Live Virtual Course March 22 at Noon – 2:00pm. Cost $99 Members/$199 Non Members Hosted by AOPA |
| 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. Offered in-person at the 2023 National Assembly September 6, 2023 8am - 5pm Cost $500 Hosted by the University of Hartford, Barney School of Business | Ethics and Compliance in Orthotics and Prosthetics Offered as a Live Virtual Course January 18 at Noon – 2:00pm. Currently available on demand. Cost $99 Members/$199 Non-Members Hosted by AOPA |
| 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. Offered as a Live Virtual Course DATES TBA Register Cost $500 Hosted by the University of Hartford, Barney School of Business | How to Analyze and Negotiate Managed Care Contracts Offered virtually on demand Cost $99 Members/$199 Non Members Hosted by AOPA Using Cost Accounting to Maximize Your Practice’s Profitability Offered as a Live Virtual Course April 19 at Noon – 2:00pm. Cost $99 Members/$199 Non Members Hosted by AOPA |
| 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. Offered online through the University's Blackboard August 28 - December 13, 2023 Register Cost $500 Hosted by the University of Hartford, Barney School of Business | What's your WHY? How to Create a Brand Value: Branding Yourself and Your Company Offered as a Live Virtual Course Dates TBA Cost $99 Members/$199 Non Members Hosted by AOPA O&P Marketing Strategies: Turning Trends into Actions Offered as a Live Virtual Course June 21 at Noon – 2:00pm. Cost $99 Members/$199 Non Members Hosted by AOPA |
Download the 2023 Course Schedule
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.
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.