CO Practice Test

This page is for candidates preparing for the Certified Orthotics Specialist (CO) credential from the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics. It sets out the exam formats, fees and deadlines from the official site, links each official content area to a free practice set, and offers a study plan and answers to common questions.

CO Exam at a Glance

What changed for CO in 2026

• Oct 27, 2026: Eligibility changed to CAAHEP-accredited master's degree in O&P + 12-month NCOPE-accredited residency (previously CAAHEP-accredited O&P master's + NCOPE residency (12 months per discipline)).^[6]
• Oct 27, 2026: Testing window (Written & Simulation Exams) changed to Nov 30 – Dec 12, 2026 (previously Nov 30 – Dec 12, 2026 (next: Feb 1–13, 2027)).^[2]
• Oct 27, 2026: Registration deadline (Written & Simulation Exams) changed to Dec 1, 2026 (previously Dec 1, 2026 for the Feb 1–13, 2027 window).^[2]
• Oct 27, 2026: Next exam date (CPM Exam) changed to Feb 27 – Mar 7, 2027 (previously Feb 27 – Mar 7, 2027 (tentative)).^[2]
• Oct 27, 2026: Other (update 2027-03-01) changed to ABC is moving to dual-discipline-only practitioner exams starting with the CPM Exam in March 2027 and Simulation Exam in April 2027, with the final deadline to apply for single-discipline exams on December 31, 2027. (previously ABC is moving to dual-discipline-only practitioner exams: the first dual-discipline CPM exam is in March 2027, the first dual-discipline Simulation exam is in April 2027, and the final deadline to apply for single-discipline exams such as the orthotic-only CO pathway is December 31, 2027.).^[2]
• Oct 27, 2026: Registration deadline (CPM Exam) changed to Dec 1, 2026 (previously Dec 1, 2026 for the Feb 27 – Mar 7, 2027 CPM).^[2]
• Oct 27, 2026: Late registration deadline changed to Up to 14 days after the deadline, subject to a $100 late fee (previously Up to 14 days after the deadline, $100 late fee).^[2]
• Oct 27, 2026: Exam fee (CO Application) changed to $100 (previously $100 non-refundable).^[2]
• Oct 27, 2026: Number of questions (CPM Exam) changed to 3 hands-on practical modules (previously 3 hands-on modules).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Passing score changed to Criterion-referenced, reviewed and revised annually (previously Criterion-referenced, set by an expert panel and reviewed every year).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Score release changed to Written and Simulation: immediate pass/fail; CPM: emailed in ~3 days; official scores in 2–3 weeks (previously Written/Simulation: pass/fail shown immediately; CPM: emailed about 3 days after).^[7]
• Oct 27, 2026: Validity changed to 5-year cycle (previously 5-year continuing-education cycle).^[4]

What the CO is and how it works

According to American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics, “The Clinical Patient Management (CPM) exam consists of three, 60-minute modules designed to assess the practical skills considered by subject matter experts to be necessary in the competent performance of orthotics and prosthetics.”^[1]

The CO credential is awarded by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics (ABC). To be eligible, you need a CAAHEP-accredited graduate degree in O&P and a 12-month NCOPE-accredited residency.

Certification involves a Written exam of 200 multiple-choice questions, a Simulation exam of 7 simulated case problems with 3 hours allowed, and a Clinical Patient Management (CPM) exam made up of 3 hands-on practical modules of 60 minutes each. The Written and Simulation exams are computer based, at a test center or with a live remote proctor. The CPM is taken in person in Tampa, FL.

Listed fees are $100 for the CO application, $300 for the Simulation exam and $775 for the CPM exam. The registration deadline is Dec 1, 2026 for the Written, Simulation and CPM exams, and the CPM dates are Feb 27 – Mar 7, 2027. Late applications are accepted up to 14 days after the deadline with a $100 late fee.

Scoring is criterion-referenced, and the passing scores are reviewed and revised annually, so we do not quote a fixed percentage. Written and Simulation results appear immediately. CPM results are emailed in about 3 days, and official scores follow in 2–3 weeks. You get 4 attempts per exam within a 3-year eligibility period, and each attempt costs the full exam fee.

Once certified, the annual renewal fee is $330, due December 1st, and certification renews at the end of a 5-year cycle. Dates and fees can change, so confirm them on the ABC website before you register.

CO content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official CO content outline published by American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through CO questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Why is regular review important in CO risk management?

1. Conditions change and new risks emerge requiring updates
2. Only needed after incidents
3. Prohibited more than annually
4. Assessments stay valid forever

Answer: A. Conditions change and new risks emerge requiring updates

Explanation:

The correct answer is that conditions change and new risks emerge, so assessments need updating. A risk review is only useful if it reflects the current situation, and a patient, setting or device can change after the last review.

The option saying reviews are only needed after incidents is wrong because it waits for harm before looking, which defeats the purpose of managing risk. The option saying reviews are prohibited more than annually is wrong because nothing stops a clinician from reviewing sooner when circumstances shift. The option saying assessments stay valid forever is wrong because it assumes nothing ever changes.

Rule to remember: risk management is a continuing cycle, not a one-time document. Review on a schedule and whenever conditions change.

Example 2

Question: What are principles of good documentation in CO?

1. Accuracy, completeness, timeliness, objectivity, and legibility
2. Speed is the only factor
3. Include personal opinions
4. Only document positives

Answer: A. Accuracy, completeness, timeliness, objectivity, and legibility

Explanation:

The correct answer lists accuracy, completeness, timeliness, objectivity and legibility. Together these make a record that another clinician, an auditor or a payer can rely on and read without guessing.

Speed as the only factor is wrong because a fast note that is inaccurate or missing detail fails the other qualities. Including personal opinions is wrong because a record should state observations and facts, not judgments about the patient. Documenting only positives is wrong because leaving out problems, complications or missed appointments makes the record misleading and incomplete.

Rule to remember: write what you observed and did, completely and promptly, in a form others can read. If a choice would make the record less objective or less complete, it is the wrong choice.

Example 3

Question: What is a CO professional's obligation regarding confidentiality?

1. Protecting client information and disclosing only with authorization or legal requirement
2. Sharing freely with other professionals
3. Discussing cases with family
4. Using as marketing material

Answer: A. Protecting client information and disclosing only with authorization or legal requirement

Explanation:

The correct answer is protecting client information and disclosing it only with authorization or when the law requires it. Patients share sensitive details so you can treat them, and that trust depends on the information staying controlled.

Sharing freely with other professionals is wrong because being a professional does not by itself create a need or permission to know. Discussing cases with family is wrong because family members are not automatically entitled to details unless the patient has authorized it. Using information as marketing material is wrong because it serves the practice rather than the patient and needs explicit consent at the very least.

Rule to remember: default to protecting information, and disclose only when the patient authorizes it or a legal requirement applies.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material. Read the ABC candidate guide sections on the exams and the application process so you know the format of each exam and the retake rules, and keep the official content area outline beside you as a checklist.

Next, take one of our practice sets for each official content area without notes to see where you stand. Do not chase a score. For every miss, write down why the right option is right and why the others are wrong, then group your misses by theme, such as documentation, fabrication or patient follow-up.

Spend most of your time on the weakest areas. Return to the matching set after a few days and check whether the same ideas still trip you up. Our questions are written by us to practise concepts and are not real exam questions, so use them to find gaps, not to predict what you will see.

Because the Simulation and CPM exams test applied judgment, talk through a patient case from assessment to follow-up in your own words. Do this with each content area in turn. In the final days, review your written notes and confirm your registration, deadline and test location on the official site.

Sources & last verified

1. American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics — number of questions, time limit, passing score (official source). “The Clinical Patient Management (CPM) exam consists of three, 60-minute modules designed to assess the practical skills considered by subject matter experts to be necessary…” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 23, 2026.
2. American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics — exam fee, testing window, registration deadline, next exam date (official source). “CO Application Fee* $100” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 23, 2026.
3. American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics — retake fee, retake policy (official source). “Exam fee for each exam attempt.” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 23, 2026.
4. American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics — validity (official source). “Your certification will be renewed at the end of a five-year cycle if the minimum number of required credits have been earned; the requirements are…” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 23, 2026.
5. American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics — delivery (official source). “The Written and Simulation exams are computer based (CBT) and offered every other month at over 600 test center locations nationwide or online with a…” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 23, 2026.
6. American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics — eligibility (official source). “You must obtain your clinical experience by completing an NCOPE accredited residency program. This is a 12-month per discipline, or an 18-month dual discipline, supervised…” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 28, 2026.
7. American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics — score release, other (official source). “A pass/fail exam result will be displayed immediately upon completion of your exam.” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 23, 2026.
8. American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics — other (official source). “orthotic domain 1 - patient assessment” Verified Oct 28, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.