Professional Development Opportunities: Short Courses & Webinars
At the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO), our commitment to lifelong learning is central to our mission. As the recognised professional body for prosthetists and orthotists in the UK, we understand the critical role that accessible, high-quality education plays in maintaining clinical standards, advancing practice, and enabling career development.
Our educational programmes are designed to empower practitioners—whether newly qualified or highly experienced—with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to meet the dynamic needs of modern prosthetic and orthotic care. BAPO supports professionals throughout their career journeys, ensuring that learning opportunities are relevant, practical, and impactful.
Webinars
Our wide-ranging webinar series offers engaging content delivered by leading experts in the field. Topics include emerging technologies, clinical best practices, patient case studies, healthcare policy updates, and interdisciplinary approaches. These flexible online sessions provide members with the opportunity to stay abreast of current developments—all from the convenience of their home or workplace.
Structured Short Courses
In addition to webinars, BAPO delivers structured short courses aimed at deepening specialist knowledge and promoting professional excellence. These courses are grounded in real-world practice and aligned with evolving clinical demands, offering hands-on learning and peer collaboration. Participants benefit from interactive formats that encourage dialogue, critical thinking, and practical application.
Member-Led and Accessible
Our educational initiatives are shaped by the profession itself. We actively seek member feedback and encourage topic suggestions, ensuring that our content remains relevant and responsive to the evolving needs of prosthetists and orthotists. Furthermore, BAPO is proud to offer many of our webinars and learning resources at no cost or reduced rates to members, reinforcing our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.
Through ongoing investment in education, BAPO is not only supporting the growth and development of individual practitioners but also contributing to the advancement of the profession as a whole.
Annoucement
📢 We’re pleased to announce that we are piloting a new, streamlined approach to funding orthotic education!
This pilot will apply to the Improving Provision of Therapeutic Footwear, Conservative Management of Spinal Fractures, and BAPO Bitesize Courses. As part of this initiative, UK orthotists, orthotics technicians, and orthotic support workers will no longer need to pay upfront for these selected courses where they are approved by the Orthotic Education Training Trust (OETT).
Instead, BAPO and OETT will work together directly to arrange funding, helping to reduce the financial burden on the orthotic workforce.
Dr Nicky Eddison, BAPO Chair,
“This pilot marks an important step toward making professional development more accessible. By removing upfront costs, we are enabling more of our workforce to engage in high-quality education without financial barriers.”
Kay Purnell, OETT Chair,
“We are delighted to collaborate with BAPO on this pilot. It allows us to test a more streamlined and supportive funding process, helping more clinicians and support staff access essential training.”
🤝 This pilot reflects our shared commitment to supporting the orthotic community and investing in its future. The next step is to ensure that training and education are protected in service contracts, enabling our workforce to thrive.
🔗 To learn more about OETT, visit: https://www.oett.org.uk/
How OETT pre-funding works
- Apply for funding via the OETT website, specifying this BAPO short course.
- The OETT Administrator reviews your application.
- If approved, OETT notifies BAPO.
- BAPO enrols you onto the course and sends your joining information.
- Travel and accommodation requests must be included in your OETT application and, if approved, are reimbursed after attendance in line with OETT Terms & Conditions.
Please note: The pre-funding pilot covers the course fee only. Travel and accommodation continue to be managed through the standard OETT reimbursement process.
Not a BAPO member?
Eligible practising Orthotists and Orthotic Support Workers working in the UK can still benefit from OETT funding. OETT will fund up to the BAPO member course fee, and BAPO will invoice non-members for the remaining balance.
We look forward to welcoming you to this course and supporting your continued professional development in spinal fracture management.
Course aim:
The course aims to improve the skills of the Orthotist when providing therapeutic footwear to their patients.
Course description:
Day 1 is presented virtually and covers footwear assessment procedures, what to consider, analysis of the situation and how to use this information to choose the most appropriate type of footwear. The different types of footwear will be discussed, stock, modular, and bespoke footwear (its uses, allowances, benefits and limitations). The mechanics of feet and how they affect footwear and how footwear affects feet is included, with lots of detail about designing bespoke footwear and how each part of it should be specified and designed by the orthotist to achieve the best outcome for the patient.
Days 2 and 3 are face to face and includes practical sessions aiming to improve assessment, measuring skills, casting, fitting, supplying and reviewing skills.
Potential problems at fitting and review and how to resolve them will be discussed and suggestions on how to improve practice will be suggested.
Attendees should be prepared to share a short case study on day 1. This can be either a success or a problem that they experience in their footwear provision. A brief description is all that is needed but photos would help.
Attendees should bring an example of a footwear draft to day 2.
Delegates will need to attend all 3 days of this Short Course.
Intended Participants:
☒ Orthotists
☒ Other: Learners
We encourage practising Orthotists who must be working in the UK, to apply for reimbursement from OETT (The Orthotic Education and Training Trust).
Course fee funding for non-BAPO members would be at the BAPO member rate for practising Orthotists or Orthotic Support Workers, who must be working in the UK only.
Applications can be made via the online applications link on the OETT website: www.oett.org.uk
Requests for reimbursement must include evidence of reflective learning/CPD.
Course description:
Conservative Management of Spinal Fractures : The Role of Orthotics and the Multidisciplinary Team– A one day course
This course provides a comprehensive understanding of the orthotic management of spinal fractures. There is some focus on collaborative care involving all AHP’s working with patients who have sustained vertebral fractures, in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Will give suggestions and tips to change/improve pathways at local Trusts, and to upgrade spinal referrals. The spinal referral examples sent out by BAPO will be used, to enhance the outcome and treatment of the spinal injury patient group.
Course aim:
Insight into assessment, decision-making and application of spinal orthoses. Strategies to support patient compliance and optimise outcomes through interdisciplinary communication. The overall goal is to give the participants more confident and knowledge on how to manage patients with spinal fractures.
Learning Outcomes:
Understand Biomechanics of different spinal fractures and spinal orthoses.
Identify what makes a fracture stable or unstable.
Identify indication of spinal bracing (and when NOT to brace a spinal fracture) backed by the evidence that is out there
Communicate and collaborate more effectively with the wider AHP team in the management of spinal fractures
Understand better what the different terminology means and classification of fractures.
Apply patient-centred approach to improve compliance and comfort with orthotic treatment
Appreciate the role of orthotic intervention in the conservative management of spinal fractures.
Intended Participants:
☒ Orthotists
☒ Orthotic support workers
☒ Other: OT’s, Physio’s, Dr’s, Consultants. Any AHP’s involved in the treatment of patients with spinal fractures.
Course timings: registration at 09:00, start 09:30, finish by 15:00
We encourage practising Orthotists or Orthotic Support Workers, who must be working in the UK, to apply for reimbursement from OETT (The Orthotic Education and Training Trust). This course has been approved for 100% funding by OETT for BAPO members, subject to the OETT Terms and Conditions. Funding includes the course fee, travel, and accommodation.
Course fee funding for non-BAPO members would be at the BAPO member rate for practising Orthotists or Orthotic Support Workers, who must be working in the UK only.
Applications can be made via the online applications link on the OETT website: www.oett.org.uk
Requests for reimbursement must include evidence of reflective learning/CPD.
We’re planning a hands-on anatomy refresher course for clinicians and students in Prosthetics & Orthotics—and we want your input.
This course will bring together expert-led teaching, cadaveric prosections, and digital tools to revisit clinically relevant anatomy in a practical, applied way.
Help us shape the course by telling us which anatomical areas you’d find most valuable.
Complete the short survey and register your interest—spaces will be limited.
Conservative Management of Knee Osteoarthritis: Evidence, Bracing Techniques, and Case Studies
Current Evidence and NICE Thresholds
Speaker: Dr. Jill Halstead-Rastrick
Description: Exercise and weight loss are the first-line treatments for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Alongside this, knee braces offer people with knee pain an alternative treatment option, especially for those where first line treatments or knee surgery are not possible, but the evidence is limited.
Knee bracing was reviewed as part of the recent OA NICE guideline update and this will be discussed.
Auditing Knee Brace Provision
Speaker: Matthew Wood
Description: During the Covid-19 pandemic, when elective surgery was suspended on the NHS, the waiting list for total knee replacements got longer with fewer resources available to manage deteriorating patients. We designed an audit to propose appropriate patients are offered an orthotists’ assessment whilst they wait, and a protocol was agreed. This provided us with an opportunity to prove that the research supporting knee bracing could provide benefits to quality of life, improve outcomes, and reduce costs.
In this session, we wish to share the learning from this audit and provide a framework for those interested in addressing local barriers to provision.
Biomechanical Principles and Brace Selection for OA Bracing
Speaker: Giles Leeming
Description: Bracing for knee osteoarthritis relies on biomechanical principles to manage the osteoarthritis (OA) by redistributing the mechanical load across the knee joint. Understanding these principles is crucial for selecting and customising braces to cater to individual patient needs, ensuring effective pain management and functional improvement. Giles Leeming will go through these principles, and will also delve into the principles for accurate brace selection; and present case studies
Giles will also introduce Allan Henshall, a bi-lateral brace user and will also present problem-solving through various case studies.
Past Short Courses & Webinars
