Business Certificate Program

“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

This comprehensive certificate program offers a series of business and management courses targeted to business owners, managers, admin, practitioners of O&P patient care facilities, and O&P manufacturers and distributors. Participants will explore key opportunities and challenges in O&P and gain practical knowledge to strengthen their business acumen. With IIOP as the educational partner, all content is tailored specifically to O&P. 

Modeled after non-degree continuing education programs that universities offer in conjunction with their MBA programs, the Certificate is delivered through asynchronous online courses, offering flexibility for busy O&P professionals. 

By joining the interest list, you will be among the first to receive updates and detailed information about the program as enrollment opens. Participants will still need to register for each course. Core classes are registered for directly with IIOP. Electives can be accessed through AOPAversity and are free to AOPA members. Courses focus on four modules: Healthcare Operations; Healthcare Management; Finance; and Sales and Marketing.  Each participant will take a core class and an elective in each module for a total of eight courses. Each course must be enrolled and registered for individually. 

Once an individual successfully passes and completes the four core classes through IIOP and four electives through AOPA, they will qualify to receive the O&P Business Certificate. Graduates are invited to join us at the National Assembly for additional recognition.

Don’t miss this opportunity to advance your career and strengthen your expertise in O&P business management.

Fall Semester begins August 17!

For most that have received their certificate, the entire Certificate Program took 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

Questions? Contact OnlineEducation@AOPAnet.org.

Graduates

• Abbey Downing, MSPO, CPO
• 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:

1. To enroll in the program, complete the online form
2. 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:
   1. Enroll in Core Courses, access University of Hartford storefront. (Instructions can be found here).
   2. Enroll in Elective Courses by clicking on the links in the table above.
3. To achieve the Certificate, you must successfully enroll, complete, and pass four core courses through Hartford and four electives through AOPA. Each course will need to be registered for individually. 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.

Note: 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.

Contacts

• For questions about the overall Certificate or Electives please contact info@aopanet.org.
• For questions about Core Courses please contact us 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.