Being a prosthetist-orthotist is a challenging and rewarding career for those who enjoy working with people to improve and enhance the quality of their lives.
Contents of the course
Student intake
Career prospects
How to apply
Contents of the course
The CSPO course is based upon ISPO (International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics) recommendations and includes subjects that will be necessary to become a well-rounded health professional. All classes are given in English.
Subjects include:
- Prosthetic care (assessment, production, fitting, training)
- Orthotic care (assessment, production, fitting, training)
- Anatomy, Biomechanics, Biology, Mathematics, etc.
- Psychology including Communication skills
Curriculum outline
- The semester starts at the beginning of October and ends in September every year.
- Students will complete 5,000 hours of study in three years.
- Students have to pass numerous tests, both written and practical, during each module. At the end of each module the students must pass an oral exam.
- In the final year, students have 1,000 hours of work with disabled people in our rehabilitation centre, under the supervision of lecturing staff.
- A representative of ISPO participates in the examination board for the final examinations.
Student intake
We accept 12 - 14 students each year.
In order to be considered for enrollment, you need to have the following:
- Baccalaureate (high school graduate level) / 12 years of formal education
- Good working knowledge of English (TOFEL score of 350 recommended)
- Commitment to become a Prosthetist-Orthotist and to assist disabled people
- Good understanding of biology, mathematics and / or physics
- Strong communication and team skills (as students come from different cultures)
CSPO encourages women to train in prosthetics and orthotics. Unless rehabilitation centres have female staff, many women and girls will be too embarrassed or frightened to receive services. In Cambodia, the goal is to have at least one female prosthetist-orthotist in each rehabilitation centre across the country. CSPO also encourages people with disabilities to enroll in the programme.
Support for students at risk of not successfully completing the programme
CSPO has a system in place to identify and assist students at risk. This system is intended to encourage students and ensure that as many students as possible complete the course. Staff members and senior students are assigned to assist the student.
Career prospects
Graduates will be recognized internationally as Prosthetist-Orthotists (ISPO Category II).
Cambodian graduates work in the Physical Rehabilitation Centres run by the Cambodia Trust and other organisations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and Handicap International. In addition, many of CSPO's graduates have progressed to teaching or managerial positions, where their skills and knowledge can be passed to others.
International students will return to their home countries to play vital roles in developing their national prosthetics and orthotics services.
How to apply
If you are a Cambodian student: We place an advertisement for prospective students around February / March each year. We are currently seeking students for intake 2010. Please visit our Scholarship page for more details.
For international students: CSPO passes the criteria to the governments or other organisations responsible for the selection, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross. Following these criteria the students are selected and enrolled.
Please contact CSPO for further information.
