Prosthetics and Orthotics Programme Programme description

The Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Prosthetics and Orthotics is a three-year programme of professional study (180 credits), and students who complete the programme are awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in Prosthetics and Orthotics. After completing the programme and two years of approved practical training, candidates can apply for authorisation as a prosthetist/orthotist pursuant to the Act relating to Health Personnel etc.

The programme description has been devised on the basis of the National Regulations relating to a Common Curriculum for Health and Social Care Education and the Regulations relating to national guidelines for prosthetics and orthotics adopted by the Ministry of Education and Research. The programme was established under the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University. The programme description also complies with the recommended guidelines for study programmes issued by the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO).

In accordance with Section 2 of the Regulations relating to national guidelines for prosthetics and orthotics education, the goal of the prosthetics and orthotics programme is to educate reflected and professionally competent prosthetists who can contribute to creating better preconditions for health, quality of life and participation throughout the lives of users of orthopaedic appliances.

Throughout the programme, the student will gain clinical expertise, including skills in designing and adapting orthopaedic appliances (prostheses, orthoses and orthopaedic shoes). Anatomy, physiology, pathology, biomechanics and material technology are key subjects in the programme and form the basis of this expertise. Knowledge from both health and engineering disciplines is combined in the field of prosthetics and orthotics.

The students will learn to carry out clinical assessments and adapt orthopaedic appliances, and acquire knowledge and skills about how to improve the patient's function, correct deformities and prevent pain and/or injuries. To make good assessments during the production of orthopaedic appliances, it is important to acquire knowledge about the properties of materials and the choice of components and joints. In this work, orthopaedic technicians are particularly important partners. Innovative approaches and processes are decisive for a good result. Over the course of the programme, the students will also develop competence in how data technology can be applied, both in clinical evaluations and in the production of individually adapted orthopaedic appliances.

Prosthetists work with people of all ages, with different needs and disabilities, and from different social and cultural backgrounds. Through the programme, the students will develop an awareness of and skills in communication and cooperation with patients, next of kin and other health science professionals. Prosthetists participate in interprofessional teams and sometimes function as consultants when users have complex needs that can only be assessed and resolved through cooperation between several professional groups and/or public agencies.

Prosthetists develop orthopaedic appliances in accordance with technological progress and are actors in quality improvement and development of knowledge-based and sustainable assistive technology in healthcare. Assistive technology is a key part of the programme and prosthetists work on a broad spectre of orthopaedic appliances. The patients’ wishes and expectations regarding activity and participation necessitate well-adapted prostheses and orthoses, and the population’s increasing life expectancy entails a greater need for orthopaedic appliances. The demand for prosthetists is high, both nationally and internationally.

Relevance to working life

Most prosthetists work in private and public orthopaedic technology enterprises. Some enterprises are located in major hospitals. Other potential workplaces include the public administration, special interest organisations for people with disabilities, and enterprises and public agencies that provide medical technology equipment to the healthcare sector. Prosthetists also work in teaching and research.

Relevance to further education

A bachelor's degree in prosthetics and orthotics qualifies students for admission to several different master’s degree programmes, both at OsloMet and at other institutions in Norway and abroad. Master’s degrees in rehabilitation and habilitation, health sciences, biomechanics and movement sciences are particularly relevant.

The target group is everyone who wants to take a bachelor’s degree in prosthetics and orthotics, both for professional practice and as the starting point for further studies. Applicants should be motivated for work in rehabilitation and have technical and practical interest.

Målgruppen for videreutdanningen er primært ansatte i kommunalt barnevern, men ansatte i statlige og private barnevernsinstitusjoner har også mulighet til å søke opptak.

Opptakskrav er fullført bachelorgrad eller tilsvarende grad, og ansettelse i barnevern.

Opptak skjer i henhold til Forskrift for opptak til studier ved OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet.

Rangering av søkere

Søkere rangeres på grunnlag av karaktergjennomsnitt fra opptaksgrunnlaget.

Søkere med hovedstilling i kommunal barnevernstjeneste som fremlegger en skriftlig anbefaling fra egen arbeidsgiver om at de anbefales å ta utdanningen prioriteres før andre søkere.

Med hovedstilling menes minimum 50 prosents tilsetning.

Dersom studieplassene ikke fylles opp av søkere med anbefaling vil søkere med hovedstilling i kommunal barnevernstjeneste prioriteres før andre kvalifiserte søkere.

Dersom det fortsatt er ledige plasser vil kvalifiserte søkere med stilling i statlig og privat barnevern gis opptak.

Læringsutbyttebeskrivelsene i studiet er utformet i henhold til 2. syklus (masternivå) i det nasjonale kvalifikasjonsrammeverket for høyere utdanning. Kandidaten skal etter fullført studium ha følgende totale læringsutbytte definert i kunnskap, ferdigheter og generell kompetanse:

Kunnskap

Kandidaten har

• avansert kunnskap om sentrale barnevernrettslige tema og problemstillinger, samt relevant forskning på feltet
• inngående kunnskap om juridisk metode og rettskilder av betydning for det barnevernfaglige arbeidet, herunder Den europeiske menneskerettskonvensjon (EMK) og FNs barnekonvensjon
• avansert kunnskap om det materielle innholdet i lovgivningen, herunder, barns rett til medvirkning, inngrepsvilkår og saksbehandlingsregler
• inngående kunnskap om de rettslige rammene for tverretatlig samarbeid, herunder taushetspliktreglene
• har inngående kunnskap om betydningen av skriftlig dokumentasjon av vurderinger og beslutninger som ledd i forsvarlig saksbehandling

Ferdigheter

Kandidaten kan

• identifisere og analysere rettslige problemstillinger i en konkret sak med utgangspunkt i juridisk teori og andre relevante rettskilder
• anvende juridisk metode og relevante rettskilder, beherske og benytte juridiske begreper i det daglige arbeidet
• kombinere juridisk og barnevernfaglig skjønnsutøvelse
• redegjøre skriftlig for barnevernfaglige og juridiske vurderinger og beslutninger
• anvende juridisk og barnevernfaglig kunnskap for å sikre barns og foreldres rett til medvirkning i barneverntjenestens arbeid
• anvende juridisk kunnskap i beslutningsprosesser i barneverntjenesten, overfor samarbeidspartnere og beslutningsorganer
• bidra til at rettssikkerheten til barn og foreldre ivaretas i alle faser i en barnevernssak

Generell kompetanse

Kandidaten

• har avansert forståelse for barnevernets rolle i samfunnet generelt, og spesielt overfor øvrig forvaltning og rettslige aktører
• kan analysere, reflektere og forholde seg kritisk til egen profesjonsutøvelse i lys av rettskildene, herunder kravet til forsvarlighet
• kan bidra til nytenkning og til innovasjon for å videreutvikle den juridiske kompetansen på egen arbeidsplass
• kan oppdatere sin kunnskap innenfor hele det barnevernrettslige området

Undervisningen går over to semestre der hvert semester inneholder ett emne. Hvert emne består av tre samlinger á tre dager.

Undervisningen gis gjennom forelesninger og veiledning til gruppearbeid, samt nettbaserte ressurser og veiledning til selvstudium. Studiet baserer seg på aktiv bruk av studentenes praksiserfaringer som yrkesutøvere. Analyse av juridiske problemstillinger i barneverntjenestens arbeid vil utgjøre en sentral del av studiet. Det forventes aktive bidrag fra hver student, og det legges opp til studentaktive læringsformer som dialogbasert undervisning, gruppearbeid og studentframlegg.

OsloMet bruker Canvas som læringsplattform. Canvas er en skybasert læringsplattform som åpner for undervisningsformer og er universitetets kommunikasjonskanal ut mot studentene.

Det er arbeidskrav i begge emnene. Nærmere beskrivelse av arbeidskravene står beskrevet under hvert emne. For å kunne framstille seg til eksamen må arbeidskravene være godkjent av emneansvarlig.

Skikkethetsvurdering

Videreutdanningen er omfattet av Forskrift om skikkethetsvurdering i høyere utdanning.

Skikkethetsvurdering er en helhetsvurdering av studentens faglige og personlige forutsetninger for å kunne fungere som helse- eller sosialpersonell.

Required coursework is all forms of work, tests and compulsory attendance that are requirements for a student to be assessed/permitted to take the exam or complete practical training. Required coursework is assessed as approved/not approved. The coursework requirements for each course are described in the respective course descriptions.

The primary purpose of coursework requirements is to contribute to the students' progress and academic development, and to stimulate the students to master the subject matter. The programme's main coursework requirements are in the form of compulsory attendance, written assignments and skills training. Other coursework requirements may apply; see the course descriptions for more information.

Compulsory attendance

The study programme emphasises a social learning environment with student-active learning methods. The students are expected to attend scheduled teaching in order to foster knowledge, skills and clinical competence. Attendance is compulsory for all parts of the programme in which the students cannot achieve the learning outcomes on their own, or for parts of the programme where cooperation with fellow students is a precondition for completing the learning activities.

The minimum attendance requirement is:

• Compulsory attendance of 90% in all forms of practical training
• Attendance of 80% in teaching activities and seminars

Other activities may also be subject to compulsory attendance requirements. The teaching sessions to which compulsory attendance requirements apply must be clearly marked in the lecture schedule programme.

Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet the attendance requirements. If a student exceeds the maximum limit for absence, the lecturer will consider whether it is possible to compensate for the absence by meeting alternative requirements, for example individual oral or written assignments. Whether or not it is possible depends on the extent of the student’s absence and which activities he/she has missed. Absence from compulsory teaching activities that cannot be compensated for may lead to delayed progress in the programme.

Written assignments and compulsory activities

Several courses have written assignments, practical exercises and tests as coursework requirements.

Written and practical work that is not approved must be reworked before re-submission. If the work is not approved on re-submission, the student cannot take the ordinary exam/assessment. The student is entitled to a third attempt before the resit/rescheduled exam. If a piece of required coursework is not approved, this may lead to delayed progress in the programme.

More detailed requirements for written and practical work, deadlines etc. are set out in the course description for the course in question.

The rules concerning cheating in the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges, the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University and the Guidelines for Dealing with Cheating and Attempt at Cheating in Connection with an Examination at OsloMet also apply to required coursework.

Different forms of assessment are used that are adapted to the learning outcomes of the different courses in the programme. The forms of assessment used are intended to support learning and document that the students’ competence is adequate in relation to the applicable learning outcomes. The students will receive advice and supervision and have their performance assessed during the programme. It is important and necessary to assess students’ knowledge and skills often, so that the students receive feedback on whether their performance is in line with the programme's requirements and whether they have achieved the learning outcomes.

The assessment of exams and practical training is carried out in accordance with the applicable rules set out in the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges, the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet and the Guidelines for Appointment and Use of Examiners at OsloMet.

The forms of assessment are described in the individual course descriptions. All exams taken will be stated on the diploma, along with the title of the student’s bachelor’s thesis.

Exams

All courses conclude with a final assessment and/or an exam. The student's performance is assessed on the basis of the learning outcomes.The grades used are pass/fail or letter grades from A to F, with A being the highest grade and E the poorest pass grade. The grade F means that the student has failed the exam.

In some courses, the exam consists of more than one part. The student's performance in each part of the exam is assessed by a separate grade, before a final overall grade is awarded. For courses that use exams consisting of more than one part, the course description will state how the final grade for the course is arrived at on the basis of the separate grades awarded for the different parts.

Most courses have required coursework that must be approved before the student can take the exam. See the course descriptions for more details.

Resits/rescheduled exams

Resit and rescheduled exams are carried out in the same manner as the ordinary exam unless otherwise specified in the course description.

For exams where a percentage of the exam papers are selected for assessment by an external examiner, the external examiner’s assessment should benefit all the students. In such cases, one external and one internal examiner will first grade the selected papers. The internal examiner then continues grading the remaining papers together with another internal examiner. The assessments from the first part are summarised to serve as guidelines for the assessments carried out by the two internal examiners.

Grades awarded for written exams can be appealed, cf. the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges. It is not possible to appeal the grades awarded for oral and practical exams. For a group exam, the result of an appeal will only have consequences for the candidates who submitted the appeal. This means that all members of the group do not have to participate in the appeal.

Assessment of external practical trainingSupervised external practical training is assessed as pass/fail. The assessment is based on the learning outcomes for the course, the student’s specification of the learning outcomes and the formative assessment. The formative assessment, which means the assessment of the student’s knowledge, skills, competence and suitability, is carried out during the placement period, and summarised half-way through and at the end of the placement period.

To pass the practical training, the student must have met the compulsory attendance requirement. A minimum attendance requirement of 90% applies to practical training courses. The attendance requirement includes both the time spent at the training establishment and any teaching provided as part of the programme in relation to the practical training.

The following also applies to absence:

• less than 10 % absence: The student can complete the practical training course as normal.
• between 10 and 20 % absence: The student can make up for the training/teaching missed, provided that this is doable. This must be agreed with the practical training supervisor and the contact lecturer at the university.
• more than 20 % absence: The student must normally retake the whole practical training course. This will result in delayed progress in the programme.

If the student exceeds the maximum limit for absence, the course will be registered as failed and count as one attempt. If a student is awarded a fail grade for a practical training course twice, they will normally have to leave the programme, cf. the Regulations Relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet.

SuitabilityDiplomas for the completed programme will only be awarded to graduates who are suited to practise the profession. A student who represents a potential threat to the physical or mental health, rights and safety of their patients and colleagues is not suited for the profession. Suitability assessments are made on a continuous basis throughout the study programme, and will be included in the overall assessment of the students’ professional and personal suitability for work as health personnel. Students who demonstrate little ability to master the prosthetics profession must be informed of this at the earliest possible stage of the programme. They will be given supervision and advice on how to improve, or be advised to leave the programme. Special suitability assessments are used in exceptional cases, cf. Regulations to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges, Chapter 7. For more information about suitability assessment, see https://student.oslomet.no/skikkethetsvurdering.

Programme description:

Approved by the Academic Affairs Committee at the Faculty of Health Sciences on 10 February 2021

Last amendements approved by the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences on 26 March 2025

Applies for students starting the programme in 2025.