Orthotists and Prosthetists

Summary

O&P professionals can work on both orthotics and prosthetics or may choose to specialize in one or the other.

Quick Facts: Orthotists and Prosthetists
2010 Median Pay	$65,060 per year $31.28 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Master’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2010	6,300
Job Outlook, 2010-20	12% (About as fast as average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	800

What Orthotists and Prosthetists Do

Orthotists and prosthetists, also called O&P professionals, design medical support devices and measure and fit patients for them. These devices include artificial limbs (arms, hands, legs, and feet), braces, and other medical or surgical devices.

Work Environment

Most orthotists and prosthetists work in offices that allow them to interact with patients and to design orthotic and prosthetic devices.

How to Become an Orthotist and Prosthetist

Orthotists and prosthetists need at least a master’s degree in orthotics and prosthetics and certification before entering the field. Both orthotists and prosthetists must complete a 1-year residency before they can be certified.

Pay

The median annual wage of orthotists and prosthetists was $65,060 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of orthotists and prosthetists is expected to grow by 12 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The aging baby-boom population will create a need for prosthetists because the two leading causes of limb loss, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, occur more frequently as people age. The demand for orthotic devices, such as braces and orthopedic footwear, will likely increase because older people tend to need these support devices.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of orthotists and prosthetists with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about orthotists and prosthetists by contacting these additional resources.

What Orthotists and Prosthetists Do About this section

Advances in technology may spur demand for prostheses that allow for more natural movement.

Orthotists and prosthetists, also called O&P professionals, design medical supportive devices and measure and fit patients for them. These devices include artificial limbs (arms, hands, legs, and feet), braces, and other medical or surgical devices.

Duties

Orthotists and prosthetists typically do the following:

• Evaluate and interview patients to determine their needs
• Measure patients to design and fit medical devices
• Design orthopedic and prosthetic devices based on physicians' prescriptions
• Take a mold of the part of the body that will be fitted with a brace or artificial limb
• Select materials to be used for the orthotic or prosthetic device
• Fit, test, and adjust devices on patients
• Instruct patients in how to use and care for their devices
• Repair or update prosthetic and orthotic devices
• Document care in patients' records

O&P professionals may work in both orthotics and prosthetics, or they may choose to specialize in one. Orthotists are specifically trained to work with medical supportive devices, such as braces and inserts. Prosthetists are specifically trained to work with prostheses, such as artificial limbs and other body parts.

Some O&P professionals may construct devices for their patients. Others supervise the construction of the orthotic or prosthetic devices by medical appliance technicians. For more information, see the profile on medical appliance technicians.

Work Environment About this section

Orthotists and prosthetists evaluate and interview patients to determine their needs.

Orthotists and prosthetists held about 6,300 jobs in 2010. Most work in offices, where they meet with patients and then design orthotic and prosthetic devices. They can work in small, private offices or in larger facilities, and they sometimes work in the shops where the orthotics and prosthetics are made.

The following industries employed the largest numbers of orthotists and prosthetists in 2010:

O&P professionals who create orthotics and prosthetics may be exposed to health or safety hazards when handling certain materials, but there is little risk of injury if workers follow proper procedures, such as wearing goggles, gloves, and masks.

How to Become an Orthotist and Prosthetist About this section

Prosthetists are specifically trained to work with prosthetics, such as external limbs or other body parts.

Orthotists and prosthetists need at least a master’s degree and certification before entering the field. Both orthotists and prosthetists must complete a 1-year residency before they can be certified.

Education

All orthotists and prosthetists must complete a master’s degree in orthotics and prosthetics. These programs include courses such as upper and lower extremity orthotics and prosthetics, spinal orthotics, and plastics and other materials.

All graduate degree programs have a clinical component in which the student works under the direction of an O&P professional. Most programs require at least 500 hours of clinical experience, split equally between orthotics and prosthetics.

Master’s programs usually take 2 years to complete. Prospective students can have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline if they have fulfilled prerequisite courses in science and mathematics; requirements vary by program.

Certification and Training

Most O&P professionals become certified by passing the exam administered by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC). To qualify for the exam, an O&P professional must have completed a master’s program in orthotics and prosthetics. Applicants must also have a 1-year formal residency in orthotics or prosthetics before sitting for the exam. Professionals who want to be certified in both orthotics and prosthetics need to complete a year of residency for each specialty and pass both sets of exams.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Orthotists and prosthetists must have excellent communication skills. They must be able to communicate effectively with the technicians who often create the medical devices. They also must be able to explain to patients how to use and care for the devices.

Detail oriented. Orthotists and prosthetists must be precise when recording measurements to ensure that devices are designed and fit properly.

Dexterity. Orthotists and prosthetists must be good at working with their hands. They may design orthotics or prosthetics with intricate mechanical parts.

Leadership skills. Orthotists and prosthetists who work in their own offices must be effective leaders. They must be able to manage a staff of other professionals in their office.

Organizational skills. Some orthotists and prosthetists own their practice or work in private offices. Strong organizational skills, including good recordkeeping, are critical in both medical and business settings.

Patience. Orthotists and prosthetists may work for long periods with patients who need special attention.

Physical stamina. Orthotists and prosthetists should be comfortable performing physical tasks, such and working with shop equipment and hand tools. They may spend a lot of time bending over or crouching to examine or measure patients.

Problem-solving skills. Orthotists and prosthetists must evaluate their patients’ situations and often look for creative solutions to their rehabilitation needs.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of orthotists and prosthetists was $65,060 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $33,690, and the top 10 percent earned more than $106,800.

The wages of orthotists and prosthetists vary substantially by the industries they work in. The following tabulation shows the median annual wages of orthotists and prosthetists in specific industries in 2010:

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of orthotists and prosthetists is expected to grow by 12 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

The aging baby-boom population will create a need for prosthetists because the two leading causes of limb loss, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, occur more frequently as people age. In addition, advances in technology may spur demand for prostheses that allow for more natural movement. The demand for orthotic devices, such as braces and orthopedic footwear, will likely increase because older people tend to need these support devices.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about orthotists and prosthetists, visit

American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists

For a list of accredited programs for orthotists and prosthetists, visit

National Commission on Orthotic & Prosthetic Education

For information about certification for orthotists and prosthetists, visit

American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics