Author Resources
Interested in being an Author?
The Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy has been publishing independent study courses since 1989. The Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy takes great pride in producing peer-reviewed courses that provide registrants with current and evidence-based clinical information in a convenient self-paced study format. This "Instructions to Authors" document will allow you to prepare your monograph in a manner that will conform to our specific requirements. Not only will preparing the monograph according to our instructions expedite the publication process for us, but it will also save you many unnecessary hours of revisions.
“Instructions for Authors” is organized topically; the Table of Contents will direct you to the information you need. Please note that we use the American Medical Association (AMA) style, 11th ed. This format may be different from styles you have used in the past so please review this section carefully.
Our goal is to produce independent study courses of the highest quality. Whether you are an experienced author or a novice, adhering to the “Instructions for Authors” will enable you to complete this goal successfully with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Becoming an ISC Author
- I have a topic idea for an independent study course; who do I contact?
Contact Managing Editor Sharon Klinski at the Academy office (800/444-3982 ext 2020 or sklinski@orthopt.org). - Based on my expertise, I believe I am qualified to be an ISC author. How may I be considered?
Send your CV to Managing Editor Sharon Klinski at the Academy office (800/444-3982 ext 2020 or sklinski@orthopt.org).
Payments to Authors
- Can I earn continuing education units (CEUs) for writing a course?
Yes, as an author you may take the final exam, and after passing with a score of 70% or higher, earn contact hours. - Do authors receive an honorarium?
Yes, upon successful completion of a monograph, authors are paid $1,500 with up to $250 in expenses.
ISC Authoring Process
- Can you tell me about the ISC process?
We recommend that prospective authors begin by reading the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy's Instructions to Authors. The ISC process officially starts with the author's willingness to write a monograph, then signing documents, followed by submitting an initial outline and then an expanded outline. Once a monograph is received and reviewed by the Editorial team, it is sent back to the author for content revisions. The second draft is reviewed and copyedited. The final monograph is then returned to the author to complete the remaining revisions. At “proof stage,” the author is asked to review the work one last time the monograph is published. This is not the time for major revisions. - Why is a table of contents required? What is the difference between headings?
The table of contents is required because the monographs are long and need to be easy for the writer to organize and the reader to comprehend. For details, please refer to the instructions for proper formatting of the Primary Headings, Secondary Headings, Tertiary headings, etc. - What are the most common writing errors?
Callout of references, headings, subject/verb agreement, and reference list not adhering to American Medical Association (AMA) style. Please read the Instructions to Authors before you begin to write.
Other Ways to Contribute
- I don’t have time to write, but still want to contribute. Is there any other way to be involved?
Yes, you may serve as a subject matter expert of monographs in your area of expertise. Authors or the editorial staff may ask you to serve in this capacity. You may also be asked to serve on the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy’s ISC Advisory Panel. Please contact the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy office if you are interested, and details will be provided.