OT13 Orthopedic Technology, Associate of Applied Science Degree
Offered at the Griffin Campus
| Program Entrance Term: |
Fall |
| Minimum Length of Program: |
6 terms |
| Minimum Credit Hours for Graduation: |
69 |
Program Description
The Orthopedic Technology degree program is a sequence of courses that prepares students to work with orthopedic surgeons to treat patients in a variety of health care environments. The degree program provides the skills and knowledge needed to become a competent orthopedic technologist performing the following services: routine office and departmental procedures and the ability to perform certain basic functions; adjusting and removing casts, splints, and braces; setting up, adjusting, and maintaining traction configurations; assisting with the care of acutely injured patients; and assisting the physician in the reduction and/or manipulation of orthopedic injuries. Successful completion of the Orthopedic Technology degree program leads to eligibility for The American Society of Orthopedic Professionals (ASOP) certification exam. Graduates may be employed in hospitals, clinics, and private practice offices.
Admission Requirements
- Submit completed application and application fee
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Submit official high school transcript or GED transcript with test scores and ALL post-secondary transcripts in an official sealed envelope
- Meet assessment requirements
Upon admission to the college, students desiring the Orthopedic Technology Program will be placed in the Health Care Science certificate while working on program admission requirements. Acceptance into the Orthopedic Technology Program is a competitive selection process which is based on the GPA of prerequisite courses and the score on the Psychological Services Bureau (PSB) Health Occupations Aptitude Examination.
Applicants must meet general admission requirement, as well as the following minimum requirements. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the program. The student must successfully complete ALHS 1040, ALHS 1090, BIOL 2113, BIOL 2113L, BIOL 2114, BIOL 2114L, COMP 1000, ENGL 1101, and SPCH 1101 with a minimum grade of “C” in conjunction with a minimum 2.5 GPA. All of these courses must be completed by the last day of the spring semester to be considered for fall semester entrance into the program. There are no exceptions! If a student retakes a course to improve his/her grade, the higher grade will be calculated into the GPA. Financial aid may or may not pay for a student to retake a course. PSYC 1101, ENGL 1102, MATH 1101 or MATH 1103, or MATH 1111, and one Humanities/Fine Art elective may be taken during the program to maintain full time status throughout the entire program. These courses must be completed before graduation with a minimum grade of “C” or better. If a student transfers from another Orthopedic Technology Program, 25% of the program must be taken at SCTC.
All students must submit test scores from the PSB Examination. Scores cannot be more than a year old. The PSB Exam is administered in the SCTC Community Services Building -100. Results will be accessed online by program faculty.
The student will be responsible for notifying program faculty, of his/her intent to compete, by turning in a yellow Allied Health Application ONLY if all program entrance requirements will be met by the end of the spring semester and PSB Exam results have been submitted. All Allied Health Applications must be submitted on or before the last day of spring semester. If transfer credits are involved, the student will be responsible for making sure all transcripts are into the college by this deadline. Program faculty will NOT accept late submissions of Allied Health Applications, transfer credits, or PSB Exam results. If the student is not accepted and wishes to re-compete the following year, the student must resubmit a new Allied Health Application and new PSB Exam result. Allied Health Applications are available on the 2nd floor bookshelf of the 900 (Medical) Building. There is no waiting list!
Should there be more qualified students competing than available spaces, candidates are admitted based on the grade point average for the courses listed above, plus the score on the PSB Examination. The grade point average, which is based on the 4.00 scale, will be converted to a 400 point scale and added to the score of the PSB Examination. Spaces are filled from the highest score downward until the maximum enrollment total is reached. The student’s program application date will break any tie. Application date is defined as the date when the student applied to the college for the program or the date on the Change of Enrollment Form to the Orthopedic Technology program. All applicants will be notified of program status, by mail, no later than the first day of the summer semester.
Applicants are accepted into the Orthopedic Technology program FALL term (August) and are accepted only as full-time day students. Each student is also required to complete a drug screen/background check through Advantage Students (www.advantagestudents.com) and complete ACEMAPP registration online, and submit a current copy of an American Heart Healthcare Provider CPR certification during the first term of the program.
Readmission Policy
If a student withdraws for any reason, the student may be allowed to re-enter the program the following year at the point in which the fall term begins. These students must re-compete for the program entrance. THIS COURTESY IS EXTENDED ONLY ONCE. Upon readmission into the Orthopedic Technology program, the student must complete additional requirements as deemed necessary by the program faculty. Readmission will be based on available space within the classroom and clinical sites.
Grading standards for Orthopedic Technology courses are very stringent. The Orthopedic Technology Program consists of 3 semesters totaling eight classes. For a student to progress to the next semester, a minimum grade of C must be achieved in EVERY ORTT course. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 to remain in the program.
Approximate additional costs other than tuition, fees, and textbooks
| Equipment/Supplies (approx.) |
$100.00 |
| Uniforms |
$300.00 |
| Liability Insurance |
$30.00 |
| Background/Drug Screening |
$78.00+ |
The American Society of Orthopedic
Professionals Registration Exam |
$200.00 |
| ACEMAPP |
$50.00 |
NOTE: A student who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor may be accepted into the Orthopaedic Technology program; however, such a conviction may cause a student to NOT be able to rotate through the program’s clinical affiliates.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many spaces are available? 20
- How many times per year are students accepted into the program? One—Fall term
- What is a typical schedule? M-Th, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
- What are the clinical sites? Athens Orthopedics, Atlanta Medical Center, Children’s Orthopedic’s of Atlanta, Emory Orthopedics and Spine, Georgia Bone and Joint, LLC., Kaiser, Ortho Georgia, Ortho Atlanta, Ankle and Foot Centers of Georgia, Premier Orthopedics, Resurgens, University Orthopedics, Upson Regional Medical Center, Well Star (Spalding Regional).
- How are clinical sites assignments determined? Clinical sites are randomly assigned by the clinical coordinator.
- How long is the program? 12 months (3 terms) from when the student starts the Orthopedic program.
The following is a suggested path to complete this program in a timely manner. An individual’s path to completion may be different based on institutional and personal factors affecting his/her academic progress.
Program Courses
First Term
Natural Sciences/Mathematics—Choose one: (Required)
MATH 1101: Course will be accepted when transferred in from another institution with a grade of a C or better but may not be offered at this institution.
Second Term
Third Term
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective:
Fourth Term
Fifth Term
Sixth Term