Indian Association Prosthetist & Orthotist:: RCI FAQ

Ans. The Rehabilitation Council of India has been set up as a Statutory Body under an Act of Parliament and its specific role is to develop, standardize and regulate training programmes/courses at various levers in the field of Rehabilitation and Special Education. It also maintains the Central Rehabilitation Register for qualified Professionals/Personnel in the area of Rehabilitation and Special Education and promotes Research in Special Education.

Que. Is the approval of RCI necessary before starting any training programme in the area of Prosthetics and Orthotics?

Ans. Yes, as per provisions of RCI Act, prior approval of RCI is a must for all universities/institutions/organizations-government and non government, etc. to start any training course in the field of Rehabilitation & Special Education

Que. Does RCI registration is necessary for PROSTHETIST/ORTHOTIST working in Private sectors/ Govt. Sectors?

Ans. Yes, RCI registration is mandatory for PROSTHETIST/ORTHOTIST working in Private sectors/ Govt. Sectors.

Que. What are the Privilege as a Prosthetist and Orthotist to be registered with RCI?

Ans. The persons registered with RCI shall be entitled to practice as rehabilitation professionals/personnel in any part of India and to recover in due course of law in respect of such practice any expenses, charges in respect of medicaments or other appliances or any fees to which he may be entitled.

No person, other than the rehabilitation professionals/personnel who possess a recognized rehabilitation qualification and is enrolled on the Central Rehabilitation Register:

Shall hold office as rehabilitation professional or any such office (by whatever designation called) in Government or in any institution maintained by a local or other authority;
Shall practice as rehabilitation professional anywhere in India;
Shall be entitled to sign or authenticate any certificate required by any law to be signed or authenticated by a rehabilitation professional;
Shall be entitled to give any evidence in any court as an expert under Section 45 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 on any matter relating to the handicapped.

Any person who acts in contravention of any provision of above shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

Que. How RCI will help in stopping quacks in the field of Prosthetic and Orthotic?

Ans. Shall be entitled to give any evidence in any court as an expert under Section 45 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 on any matter relating to the handicapped:

Que. Which are the categories of professionals covered under the RCI Act?

Ans. 16 Categories of Professionals/ Personnel have been covered under the RCI Act as given below.

Audiologists and Speech Therapists
Clinical Psychologists
Hearing and Ear Mould Technicians
Rehabilitation Engineers and Technicians
Special Teachers for Educating and Training the Handicapped
Vocational Counselors, Employment Officers and Placement Officers
Multi-purpose Rehabilitation Therapists, Technicians
Speech Pathologists
Rehabilitation Psychologists
Rehabilitation Social Workers
Rehabilitation Practitioners in Mental Retardation
Orientation and Specialists
Community Based Rehabilitation Professionals
Rehabilitation Counselors, Administrator
Prosthetics and Orthotists
Rehabilitation Workshop Managers

However, Professionals like Physiotherapists & Occupational Therapists are not covered under the RCI Act.

Que. What types of courses are being offered by RCI recognized institutions/ training centers?

Ans. Following type of courses are being offered by the RCI recognized institution, list of which is published through newspaper every year in the month of March/ April:

Certificate Courses
Diploma Courses
PG Diploma Courses
Degree Courses
Post-graduate Degree Courses/ Master’s level Course
Short-term/ refresher courses under the Continuing Rehabilitation Education programme.

Que. Does RCI recognize Prosthetic and Orthotic courses from foreign university?

Ans. Yes, RCI recognize Prosthetic and Orthotic course from foreign university.

Que. Does RCI recognize Indian national who posses Prosthetics and Orthotics higher professional qualification from foreign university of international standards?

Ans. Yes, RCI recognize Indian national who posses Prosthetics and Orthotics higher professional qualification from foreign university of international standards.

Que. What formalities have to be completed for seeking RCI recognition to start any training programme?

Ans. Prescribed norms for each training programme have to be fulfilled to be eligible to run a course, are as follows:

To obtain approval of Rehabilitation Council of India/ Govt. of India, the organization/ institute/ centre/ university desirous of starting the Master’s Degree/ Degree/ PG Diploma/ Diploma/ Certificate course should approach RCI, through the respective State Govt./ Union Territory to access the infrastructural facilities before starting the course.
The competent authority of State Government/ Union Territory Administration must indicate in clear terms whether they are or not in favour of starting a College or institution managed by a non governmental organization.
The institute should adopt the standards of staff, space and equipment, etc. as recommended by the Rehabilitation Council of India and give an undertaking for their phased implementation within the stipulated period.
The institute must submit in writing, the willingness of University/ Board who can grant affiliation, if the Rehabilitation Council of India permits the Master’s Degree/ Degree/ PG Diploma/ Diploma course to be started.
The institute must satisfy Rehabilitation Council of India about possessing enough training facilities to undertake the Master’s Degree/ Degree/ PG Diploma/ Diploma Course.
The management must provide adequate facilities administrative and teaching staff required for Master’s Degree/ Degree/ PG Diploma/ Diploma courses as per the recommendation of the Council.
The management of the institute must submit a plan for the construction of full-fledged division and appoint competent personnel to man the same.

Que. What is the procedure for admission to various courses?

Ans. Admission to various courses is done directly by the respective institution as per prescribed norms of affiliated University/ College/ Institutions. The academic session starts every year sometime in May/ June and the process of admission starts in April every year. Therefore, for admission to any course the concerned institution may be contacted directly.

Que. What is the scope of these Courses for job career option?

Ans. All the courses have very good job opportunities in the Government sector like National Institutes, Hospitals, Rehabilitation Centres, etc., NGO sector and private sector to practice as a qualified professional with bright future prospects.

Que. Does RCI collaborate with any individual for any rehabilitation programme?

Ans. No, RCI does not deal with rehabilitation services. Individual are free to give suggestion of improving the quality of education programme.

Que. Does RCI deal with direct services to the Disabled?

Ans. No. RCI is a regulatory body responsible for standardization of curriculum, research and development, training and manpower development, recognition of institutions offering various courses on rehabilitation of the disabled and registration of rehabilitation professionals/ personnel. It has nothing to do with any other kind of rehabilitation services like the rehabilitation of displaced persons due construction of a project or a dam, housing projects, earthquake, etc

Que. Whom can one contact to avail rehabilitation services for any person with disability?

Ans. For any such kind of help the individuals may contact the Ministry of Social Welfare or Ministry of Disability Welfare/ Commissioner of Disability in their respective states or the Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi-110001.

Que. In case of any grievance of any kind relating to persons with disability, where can one seek redress?

Ans. The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, provides for seeking of redressal of grievances by the office of the State Commissioner of Disability or Chief Commissioner of Disabilities, Govt. of India.

Que. Does RCI facilitate any training to persons not possessing any recognized rehabilitation qualification?

Ans. Yes. The RCI is facilitating a National Bridge Course through a network of selected institutions (list given on RCI website), for persons not possessing any recognized rehabilitation qualifications who have been working in the field of disability and rehabilitation of the disabled before June 1993. i.e. before the RCI came into the existence. Such persons must be 10th pass or above qualification and must produce conclusive proof of working in the field of disability and rehabilitation of the disabled prior to June 1993, in order to be trained under the Bridge Course. All persons trained under the Bridge Course are registered by the Council as Rehabilitation Personnel.

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