Examination Date

The CSOT written examination is offered annually in October.

The written exam will be conducted between August 31 and October 31, 2010.

Only FULL members can sit the registry examinations. Notification has been sent to all eligible candidates. Deadline for confirmation to write is August 3, 2010.

Sample Examinations (to assist you with your preparation) are available by
CLICKING HERE

Oral and practical exams

Ontario - Retake

Date: Saturday, September 25, 2010
Place: Fracture Clinic, Scarborough General Hospital
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Examining Board Chair: Jane Villadiego R.T. (Orthopaed)

Deadline for confirmation of attendance is July 16, 2010

Alberta Retake

Date: October 2, 2010
Place: Fracture Clinic - Alberta
Time: TBA
Examining Board Chair: Brian Fandrick R.T. (Orthopaed)

Deadline for confirmation of attendance is August 3, 2010

Winnipeg- Retake

Date: October 2, 2010
Place: Cast Clinic - 2132 Grace General Hospital, 300 Booth Dr.
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Examining Board Chair: Eric Klaus R.T. (Orthopaed)

Deadline for confirmation of attendance is August 3, 2010

Held each spring upon successful completion of the written examination.

If you are a Registered Orthopaedic Technologist and interested in being a monitor for the oral and practical exams, please contact the CSOT office.

2009 Oral and Practical Exams

Congratulations to

Wendy Atkinson
Silas Costa
Brad DeWagner
Susan Davis
Bruno Doucet
Helen Fehr
Danisa Heyland
Steve Hutchinson
Lyle Johnson
Melanie Lund
Brenda Manley
Jason Morelos
Pam Nadon
Archie Olfato
Kristinn Peterson-Brazeau
Christopher Thompson
Michelle Vilayphanh
Susan Watson
Richard Wong

2008 Oral and Practical Exams

Congratulations to

Valentino Arboleda
Nerius Babiera
Stacyann Baker
Boris Bissky
Desmond Brown
Mary Jane Buchner
Shannon Delano
Darrell Derksen
Dalphine Edwards
Wendy Fast
Igor Fluerar
Barb Letourneau
Rogerio Mantero
Edmund Muyot
Miranda Paterson
Lynne Pizzale
Shanti Shivpaul
Catherine Skrabec
Michael Wong
John Yarnell

on the successful completion of the Registry Examinations.

2008 and 2009 Winners
Congratulations to Barb Letourneau of Alberta (186/215) winner of the 2008 Guy Chartrand Award for the Highest Overall Mark on the exams and to Steve Hutchinson of B.C. (194/215) winner of the 2009 Guy Chartrand Award.

To Steve Hutchinson of B.C. winner of the 2008 Ronald Wallace Award for the highest mark on the written exam - 83 1/2 out of 100 and to Tammy Dollimount of Newfoundland winner of the 2009 Award - 85%.

2006 and 2007 Winners

Congratulations to Tanis Malkoske of Winnipeg (191/215) winner of the 2006 Guy Chartrand Award for the Highest Overall Mark on the exams and to Stan Szumlak of Winnipeg (188/215) winner of the 2007 Guy Chartrand Award.

To Stan Szumlak of Winnipeg winner of the 2006 Ronald Wallace Award for the highest mark on the written exam - 84% and to Igor Fluerar of Winnipeg and Catherine Skrabec of Ontario winners of the 2007 Award - 88%.

2004 and 2005 Winners

Congratulations to Fiona Fitzpatrick of Ontario (186/215) winner of the 2004 Guy Chartrand Award for the Highest Overall Mark on the exams and to Alex Tarambikos of Quebec (185/215) winner of the 2005 Guy Chartrand Award.

To Jennifer Gomez of Ontario winner of the 2004 Ronald Wallace Award for the highest mark on the written exam - 86% and to Shannon MacIntosh of Ontario winner of the 2005 Award - 88%.

What you need to know

To be eligible for the CSOT examinations candidates must meet the following requirements

  • be a full member of the CSOT in good standing, ie. working a minimum of 850 hours per year
  • complete and file the application form and full payment of the required fee
  • enclose a recent photograph with your application

The certification exam involves three phases. The written portion is held annually in October of each year and is comprised of approximately 120 questions and 10 diagrams. Two hours is allowed for this exam. The written exam must be completed before you may proceed to the oral and practical exam.

Content Areas
Fractures, Dislocations and Complications - 25% or 29 questions
Anatomy and Physiology - 20% or 24 questions
Muscles and Nerves - 13% or 15 questions
Diseases, Syndromes and Infections - 13% or 15 questions
Terminology - 9% or 12 questions
Splinting and Casting - 7% or 9 questions
Legalities - 7% or 8 questions
Traction - 6% or 7 questions

Diagrams account for 40% of the total mark

A rewrite exam for the written portion may be taken in February of the following year for those who fail the October exam. Two hours is allowed.

Candidates receiving a passing grade proceed to the final phases of the exams consisting of oral questions and practical demonstrations. This final phase is held in the spring following the written exam in Toronto, Eastern and Western Canada in a selected hospital fracture department.

Things you should know:

  • Be able to match terminology with the appropriate definition, ie., Abduction, Eversion, Varus, Pronation, anatomy, cell, anabolism, etc.
  • How to choose a Thomas splint
  • Match the sensory function with nerve location, ie., Peroneal nerve, median nerve, etc.
  • Match the fractures, ie., pathologic fracture, Bennett's fracture, etc.
  • Know the healing stages
  • Know the bones of the hand, foot, etc.
  • Be able to identify fractures on a diagram, ie., transverse, greenstick, etc.
  • Know the terms used to describe motion of the hand
  • Know the skeletal system
  • Know the heart, ie., right ventricle, inferior vena cava, endocardium, etc.
  • Know where the pressure points to avoid tight wrapping - See Zimmer handbook for the diagram
  • Know about compartment syndrome, avascular necrosis, functions of muscles, gamekeepers thumb, monteggia fracture, pilon fracture,
  • Know about traction
  • If possible, "buddy up" with a Registered Technologist in your area; seek their help and pick their brains.

Content outline of the written exam

  • Anatomy and physiology including muscles,(function, location, basic knowledge of the heart) bones, (name, types, location, basic structure, normal growth, joints, function) nerves, (function, location) cartilage, ligaments, tendons (function, location)
  • Orthopaedic conditions: Fractures (types, complications, healing); Dislocations; Disorders (congenital, pathological, developmental, traumatic); Infections; Inflammations.
  • Treatment of orthopaedic conditions: Casting (purpose, materials, types, application procedures, complications, instructions, support and immobilization devices); Traction (purpose, types, methods, procedures, complications, equipment); Surgical Intervention (purpose, sterile techniques, major procedures, minor procedures, instruments, postoperative care).

Oral and Practical Examination

The candidate will appear before three examiners. This portion of the exam has a maximum of 30 minute duration. X ray interpretation is included.

Practical - Candidates must be fully aware that a knowledge of casting and application of casts (upper and lower extremity - p.o.p. and fibreglass) is a pre-requisite to the completion of the registration examination. Any candidate who does not or rarely applies a cast must be fully aware of the consequences this will have on the outcome of their mark (score) in this category. Included also is the removal of casts. Please note that plaster of paris and fibreglass casting material will be used

Traction - this portion requires knowledge of specific tractions and their application

NERVE TESTING FOR SENSORY FUNCTION IS A COMPULSORY PORTION OF THIS EXAM.

Splinting - knowledge is required for its application to the patient, ie., velpeau, figure of 8, knee immobiliser, airplane splint, humeral brace, crutch and cane fitting and crutch walking.

The candidate is required to demonstrate proficiency in each of the following

  • the use and maintenance of tools and equipment used in orthopaedic techniques
  • application of orthopaedic dressings and bandages
  • application of various types of casts - p.o.p and fibreglass
  • setting up and maintenance of traction
  • knowledge of principles of asepsis
  • fitting crutches and canes and instructions of walking

General Guideline outlining expectations of candidate

  • Treatment of fractures, dislocations and soft tissue injuries including Shoulder, Wrist, Upper and Lower Arm, Hand
  • Fractures and dislocation of the spine including Cervical supports, body jacket, minerva jacket, spinal deformity, scoliosis cast
  • Fractures and dislocations of Hip and Pelvis including hip spica single and double, CDH cast, abduction cast, commercial splints
  • Fractures and dislocations of Lower Extremity including, hip spica, cylinder cast, long leg cast, long leg supports, short leg, patella tendon bearing cast, forefoot cast, jones bandage, long and short splints, strapping and taping, paediatric casts
  • Cast and Splint Therapy
  • Special Casting Procedures
  • Traction and Suspension, Upper Extremity, Cervical Spine, Lumbar Spine, Pelvis, Lower Extremity, Beds and Frames, aseptic technique, miscellaneous

Since the equipment used at the examining Hospital may be different than what you are accustomed to, it is recommended that you bring your own scissors and spreader. You may also bring your own casting material.

A candidate has three opportunities to pass the registry examinations. Failure to complete the process after three attempts will require the candidate to wait for a period of two years before being allowed to write again.

A failure of any component of the oral or practical portion requires the candidate to be re examined on the failed portion at a later date.

Upon successful completion of the examinations a diploma and registry pin with the registry number engraved on the back will be issued. Letters are sent to the Chief of Service and Human Resources informing them of the accomplishment.

If annual dues are not paid, the Registry of the technologist is no longer valid. Hospital Administrators will be advised. When membership has been allowed to lapse for 12 months or more, the applicant for reinstatement will be asked to appear before an examining team at the next examining board and will be required to rewrite the exam.

Applicants residing outside of Canada and her territories will not be accepted as candidates for the registry examinations.