Professional Development Opportunities: Short Courses & Webinars
At the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (911爆料), 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鈥攚hether newly qualified or highly experienced鈥攚ith the knowledge, skills, and confidence to meet the dynamic needs of modern prosthetic and orthotic care. 911爆料 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鈥攁ll from the convenience of their home or workplace.
Structured Short Courses
In addition to webinars, 911爆料 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, 911爆料 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, 911爆料 is not only supporting the growth and development of individual practitioners but also contributing to the advancement of the profession as a whole.
Annoucement
馃摙 We鈥檙e 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 911爆料 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, 911爆料 and OETT will work together directly to arrange funding, helping to reduce the financial burden on the orthotic workforce.
Dr Nicky Eddison, 911爆料 Chair,
鈥淭his 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.鈥
Kay Purnell, OETT Chair,
鈥淲e are delighted to collaborate with 911爆料 on this pilot. It allows us to test a more streamlined and supportive funding process, helping more clinicians and support staff access essential training.鈥
馃 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.
馃敆 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 911爆料 short course.
- The OETT Administrator reviews your application.
- If approved, OETT notifies 911爆料.
- 911爆料 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 911爆料 member?
Eligible practising Orthotists and Orthotic Support Workers working in the UK can still benefit from OETT funding. OETT will fund up to the 911爆料 member course fee, and 911爆料 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.鈥嬏
Course description:
Day 1听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听appropriate type听of footwear.听听The听different types听of footwear will be discussed, stock, modular, and bespoke footwear (its uses, allowances,听benefits听and limitations).听听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.鈥嬧嬏
听
Days 2 and 3听are face to face and includes practical sessions aiming to improve assessment, measuring skills, casting, fitting,听supplying听and reviewing skills.鈥嬏
Potential problems at fitting and review and how to resolve them will be discussed and suggestions on how to improve practice will be suggested.鈥嬏
Attendees should be prepared to share a short case study on day 1.听听This can be either a success or a problem that they experience in their footwear provision.听听A brief description is all that is needed but photos would help.鈥嬧嬏
Attendees should bring an example of a footwear draft to day 2.鈥嬏
听
Delegates will need to attend all 3 days of this Short Course.听
Intended Participants:听
鈥嬧嬧槖鈥 Orthotists
鈥嬧嬧槖鈥 Other: Learners
We encourage practising Orthotists who must be听working in the UK, to apply for reimbursement from OETT (The Orthotic Education and Training Trust).
Course fee funding for non-911爆料 members would be at the 911爆料 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: Requests for reimbursement must include evidence of reflective learning/CPD.

Course description:听
Conservative Management of Spinal Fractures : The Role of Orthotics and the Multidisciplinary Team鈥 A one day course
听
This course provides a comprehensive understanding of the orthotic management of spinal fractures. There is some focus on collaborative care involving all AHP鈥檚 working with patients who have sustained vertebral fractures, in both inpatient and outpatient settings.听
听听
Will give suggestions and tips to change/improve pathways at local Trusts, and to听upgrade听spinal referrals.听The spinal referral examples sent out by 911爆料听will be used, to enhance the outcome and treatment of the spinal injury patient group.听听
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.听听
Learning Outcomes:听
Understand Biomechanics of听different听spinal fractures and spinal orthoses.听听
Identify听what makes a fracture stable or unstable.听听
Identify听indication听of spinal bracing (and when NOT to brace a spinal fracture) backed by the evidence that is out there听
Communicate and collaborate more effectively with the wider AHP team in the management of spinal fractures听
Understand better what the different terminology means and classification of fractures.听听
Apply patient-centred approach to improve compliance and comfort with orthotic treatment听听
Appreciate the role of orthotic intervention in the conservative management of spinal fractures.听听
Intended Participants:听
鈥嬧嬧槖鈥 Orthotists
鈥嬧嬧槖鈥 Orthotic support workers
鈥嬧嬧槖鈥嬏齇ther:听OT鈥檚, Physio鈥檚, Dr鈥檚, Consultants. Any AHP鈥檚 involved in the treatment of听patients听with spinal fractures.听听
Course timings: registration at 09:00, start 09:30, finish by 15:00
We encourage practising Orthotists or Orthotic Support Workers, who must be听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 911爆料 members, subject to the OETT Terms and Conditions. Funding includes the course fee, travel, and accommodation.
Course fee funding for non-911爆料 members would be at the 911爆料 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: Requests for reimbursement must include evidence of reflective learning/CPD.

Course description:听
Spine and Lower Limb Anatomy Course听
听
Course aim:
The course听represents听an exciting opportunity for Orthotists and Prosthetists to gain a unique insight into the human body using cadaveric material and the latest in digital technology.听
The morning session will focus on the spine, hip and thigh and the afternoon session will examine the knee, lower听leg听and foot. You will be able to refresh your anatomical knowledge by attending a lecture by a resident academic before visiting the laboratories, where anatomy demonstrators will be on hand to听assist听you in examining the cadavers. Here, you will be able to gain a thorough understanding of the complete anatomy and apply it to every day clinical practice.听
Learning Outcomes:听
This event aims to equip clinicians with the knowledge of the spine and lower limb anatomy听required听to effectively treat various pathologies in clinical practice. The course content will concentrate on joints, muscle attachments, nerves, and the circulatory system and will be delivered through lectures and听prosections.听
听
Syllabus听
鈥 Registration and introduction听
鈥 Anatomy of the spine,听hip听and thigh (Lecture)听听
鈥 Prosections听of the spine,听hip听and thigh (practical session)听听
鈥 Lunch听
鈥 Anatomy of the knee, lower leg,听ankle听and foot (Lecture)听听
鈥 Prosections听of the knee, lower leg,听ankle听and foot (practical session)听听
鈥 Evaluation and conclusion
Intended Participants:听
鈥嬧嬧槖鈥 Orthotists
鈥嬧嬧槖鈥 Prosthetist
鈥嬧嬧槖鈥嬏齇ther:听Learner
Course timings: registration at 09:00, start 09:30, finish by 16:00
We encourage practising Orthotists or Orthotic Support Workers, who must be听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 911爆料 members, subject to the OETT Terms and Conditions. Funding includes the course fee, travel, and accommodation.
Course fee funding for non-911爆料 members would be at the 911爆料 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: Requests for reimbursement must include evidence of reflective learning/CPD.

We鈥檙e planning a hands-on anatomy refresher course for clinicians and students in Prosthetics & Orthotics鈥攁nd 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鈥檇 find most valuable.
Complete the short survey and register your interest鈥攕paces will be limited.

Conservative Management of Knee Osteoarthritis: Evidence, Bracing Techniques, and Case Studies听
Current Evidence and NICE Thresholds听
Speaker:听Dr. Jill Halstead-Rastrick听
Description:听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听option, especially for those where first line treatments or knee surgery are not possible, but the evidence is limited.听听
Knee bracing was reviewed as part of the recent OA NICE guideline听update听and this will be discussed.听
Auditing Knee Brace Provision听
Speaker:听Matthew Wood听
Description:听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听appropriate patients听are offered an orthotists鈥 assessment whilst they wait, and a protocol was agreed.听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.听听
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.听
Biomechanical Principles and Brace Selection for OA Bracing听
Speaker:听Giles Leeming
Description:听Bracing for knee osteoarthritis relies on biomechanical principles to manage the听osteoarthritis (OA) by redistributing the mechanical load across the knee joint. Understanding these principles is crucial for selecting and听customising听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听accurate听brace selection; and present case studies听听
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































