pedorthist explaining an injury on a foot skeleton

 

Become a Practicum Host

Each year, Western Continuing Studies invites Pedorthic professionals to host post-degree diploma students for the practicum components of the Diploma in Pedorthics We work with you and our students to coordinate the best possible professional practicum placement for the applicant and organization. 

Program Overview

The Diploma in Pedorthics is a post-degree program that includes 8 diploma-credit courses plus 2 practicums. Students are eligible to apply to the Diploma in Pedorthics only after successful completion of an undergraduate degree from an accredited university.

Practicum Timing

Students in the Diploma in Pedorthics complete three separate placements as part of their program requirements. The order and time commitment of each placement is as follows:

PEDS 6101A (Fabrication Skills): students complete 280 hours full-time beginning in January for 8 weeks.
PEDS 6101B (Clinical Skills): students complete 280 hours full-time beginning in March for 8 weeks.
PEDS 6102 (Capstone: Clinical, Footwear, Orthoses): students complete 560 hours full-time between May - August. 

Requirements of Practicum Supervisors

The practicum supervisor must C. Ped (C) with at least 3 years of clinical experience who are in good standing with the College of Pedorthics of Canada and the Pedorthic Association of Canada and do not have any cases pending with the ethics committee.

  • Review and discuss with the student the Practicum Agreement
  • Have the necessary knowledge and skills to supervise appropriately and do so only within your area of knowledge and competence
  • Provide the student with a thorough orientation to the practicum site and ethical standards including those related to confidentiality, liability, etc.
  • Help the student develop the relevant clinical/footwear/fabrication competencies noted in the evaluation provided to the student and supervisor by the Work integrated learning coordinator
  • Meet with the student once per week to discuss their progress
  • Provide supportive and educational feedback while creating an atmosphere that is open and flexible
  • Maintain an educational relationship with the student whereby the student is accountable to the supervisor for all aspects of his or her work
  • Provide the student with ongoing feedback regarding his or her strengths, weaknesses, and progress throughout the practicum<
  • Provide the student with suitable space, equipment and support staff
  • Assign duties and responsibilities that are appropriate to the student’s learning needs and that are increasingly difficult, demanding and challenging
  • Assign duties and responsibilities that help the student develop a broad range of knowledge and skills
  • Keep the student informed of relevant training experiences at the organization (e.g. conferences)
  • Report to the Work Integrated Learning Coordinator any concerns related to the student’s performance
  • Model ethical practice and refrain from any inappropriate or unethical behaviour toward the student (e.g. verbal abuse, sexual harassment, dual relationships)
  • Complete the evaluations of the student’s performance in meeting the clinical/footwear/fabrication competencies at the end of the practicum and submit it to the Work integrated learning coordinator by the established deadline
  • Reimburse the student for any out-of pocket expenses incurred in practicum-related work
  • Integrated Pedorthic Systems
  • Pedorthic Foundations & Professional Standards
  • Pedorthic Pathology I: Medical Conditions and Injuries
  • Assessment and Normal Gait
  • Pedorthic Pathology II: Diseases
  • Casting and Manufacturing
  • Pathomechanics
  • Capstone
  • C. Ped (C) Supervisor(s) in good standing with the College of Pedorthics of Canada and the Pedorthic Association of Canada, with at least 3 years of experience
  • Full time supervision by C. Ped (C) at the participating practicum site
  • On site lab fully equipped to modify footwear
  • On-site production of custom-made foot orthoses as defined by the Pedorthic Association of Canada 
  • Dust and fume control system
  • Appropriate safety equipment
  • C. Ped (C) Supervisor(s) in good standing with the College of Pedorthics of Canada and the Pedorthic Association of Canada, with at least 3 years of experience
  • Full time supervision by C. Ped (C) Supervisor(s) at the participating practicum site
  • Assessment area
  • Space for gait analysis
  • 3D casting for custom-made foot orthoses
  • On site orthotic modifications
  • Retail footwear *(The student requires exposure to the role of footwear within the pedorthic assessment process. If your site does not retail footwear, your site is still eligible to host a student during this practicum. The student can visit an off-site footwear retailer, preferably one in which your site is affiliated with, and spend time during at this site to gain this necessary experience)
  • A minimum of 5 brands of footwear on site, with at least 2 with width fittings in stock
  • Men’s and lady’s footwear
  • Footwear fitting (size, shape and volume) and function (selecting the appropriate style of shoe)
  • Selection of appropriate socks
  • Appropriate assessment of need for custom-made footwear versus off-the-shelf footwear
  • Appropriate fitting of custom orthoses into the shoe
  • Appropriateness of footwear for orthotics, orthotic/shoe interactions
  • Troubleshooting in the orthotic fitting process in various types of footwear
  • Inventory management skills
  • Ethics of dealing with other profession's orthotics
  • C. Ped (C) Supervisor(s) in good standing with the College of Pedorthics of Canada and the Pedorthic Association of Canada, with at least 3 years of experience
  • Full time supervision by C Ped (C) at the participating practicum site
  • Assessment and treatment area
  • Space for gait analysis
  • 3D casting for custom-made foot orthoses
  • On site lab for orthotic modifications
  • Retail footwear *(The student requires exposure to the role of footwear within the pedorthic assessment process. If your site does not retail footwear, your site is still eligible to host a student during this practicum. The student can visit an off-site footwear retailer, preferably one in which your site is affiliated with, and spend time during at this site to gain this necessary experience)
  • Footwear fitting (size, shape and volume) and function (selecting the appropriate style of shoe)
  • Selection of appropriate socks
  • Appropriate assessment of need for custom-made footwear versus off-the-shelf footwear
  • Appropriate fitting of custom orthoses into the shoe
  • Appropriateness of footwear for orthotics, orthotic/shoe interactions
  • Troubleshooting in the orthotic fitting process in various types of footwear
  • Inventory management skills
  • Ethics of dealing with other profession's orthotics

Remuneration

Successful completion of the practicum, based on the Practicum Supervisor’s evaluation of the student’s on-site performance, is a requirement of the academic program.  In instances when previous practicums have been unpaid, some sites have chosen to offer a stipend or honorarium.

Submit a Posting

Contact Ashleigh Lerch, Work Integrated Learning Coordinator 

Looking forward to partnering with you during the upcoming year!


Find out more about the Diploma in Pedorthics program

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