The British Association of Prosthetics and Orthotics

BAPO Endorsements

BAPO endorsement provides independent professional recognition for resources that support high-quality practice within prosthetics and orthotics.

Applications are reviewed against BAPO’s endorsement criteria by the Professional Affairs Committee. The Committee acts as the reviewer and makes the final decision on all endorsement and re-endorsement applications.

What can be endorsed?

BAPO welcomes applications for professional resources including:

  • Clinical guidance and professional standards
  • Position statements
  • Competency frameworks
  • Educational and learning resources
  • Other non-commercial resources relevant to prosthetics and orthotics

Resources must be directly relevant to prosthetics and/or orthotics, suitable for national or UK-wide use and available to users free of charge. Resources intended primarily to promote a specific product or commercial service are not eligible for endorsement.

BAPO endorsement is separate from accreditation.

How to apply

Applicants must complete the current BAPO Endorsement Form  and submit it with the full resource or an accessible working link.

The application must include:

  • Details of the applicant organisation and named contact
  • A summary of the resource and its intended audience
  • Information about funding, sponsorship and any conflicts of interest
  • Evidence showing how the resource meets each endorsement criterion
  • The complete resource, with its version or publication date clearly identified

Completed applications should be sent to enquiries@bapo.com.

What happens after an application is submitted?

The BAPO Secretariat will acknowledge the application, check that it is complete and confirm the appropriate review route.

The Professional Affairs Committee will then:

  • Review the resource against the mandatory and additional endorsement criteria
  • Record its assessment, comments and supporting evidence
  • Request further information or revisions where necessary
  • Make the final endorsement decision

The review process normally takes approximately six weeks from receipt of a complete application. Timescales may vary depending on the complexity of the resource, Committee availability and whether revisions are required.

Applicants will receive the Committee’s final decision and any feedback in writing.

Possible outcomes

The Professional Affairs Committee may decide to:

  • Endorse the resource
  • Request revisions or further information
  • Decline the application
  • Recommend that the resource follows another BAPO process, such as accreditation

Where endorsement is granted, the applicant must provide the final approved version of the resource and complete the BAPO Logo Licence Agreement before using the BAPO logo or stating that the resource is endorsed by BAPO.

Duration and re-endorsement

A new BAPO endorsement normally lasts for 12 months. Continued endorsement requires a documented extension or re-endorsement decision by the Professional Affairs Committee.

Applicants are responsible for notifying BAPO of any material changes to an endorsed resource. This includes changes to its scope, recommendations, evidence base, clinical content, intended audience or commercial status. Updated resources must not continue to display the BAPO logo without written authorisation.

Where a resource has been reviewed or endorsed within the previous five years, the BAPO Re-Endorsement Form may be used. If more than five years have passed, or the resource has undergone substantial revision, a new Endorsement Form and full assessment may be required.

BAPO Re-Endorsement Form

Use of the BAPO logo

The BAPO logo must not be used until:

  • The Professional Affairs Committee has made and recorded its final decision to endorse
  • The final resource and proposed logo placement have been approved
  • The BAPO Logo Licence Agreement has been completed and signed
  • Written permission to use the logo has been issued

Permission to use the logo applies only to the approved resource, purpose, presentation and endorsement period. It does not automatically continue when an endorsement expires or is renewed.

Further information

For an Endorsement Form, Re-Endorsement Form or further guidance, please contact enquiries@bapo.com.