SB18 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

William “Bill” M. BeasleySenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to the State Board of Prothetists and Orthotists; to amend Sections 34-25A-3, 34-25A-5, and 34-25A-8 of the Code of Alabama 1975, to require national boards making certifications

Summary

SB18 shifts Alabama's prosthetics and orthotics certification rules from NCCA accreditation to state-board approval of national certifying boards.

What This Bill Does

It removes the requirement that national certifying boards be accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Instead, the Alabama State Board of Prosthetists and Orthotists must approve national certifying boards that certify practitioners and facilities. The board will require accredited facilities to meet the standards of an approved national certifying board and any other board-required conditions. The act retroactively ratifies prior board actions to align with these changes and becomes effective immediately after passage.

Who It Affects

• Licensed prosthetists, orthotists, prosthetists/orthotists, pedorthists, and accredited facilities must obtain certification or accreditation from national boards that are approved by the state board.
• The Alabama State Board of Prosthetists and Orthotists and national certifying boards must establish and follow an approval process; board criteria will determine which certifying bodies are recognized in Alabama.

Key Provisions

• Eliminates the requirement that national certifying boards be accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
• Requires the Alabama State Board of Prosthetists and Orthotists to approve national certifying boards that certify practitioners and facilities in prosthetics, orthotics, and pedorthics.
• Directs accredited facilities to meet the standards of an approved national certifying board and any other board-established requirements (removing NCCA as the accrediting gatekeeper).
• Retroactively ratifies prior Alabama Board actions consistent with these changes and makes the act effective immediately upon passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.